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OF THE 



United Brethren Church 



ILLUSTRATED 



TREATING OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN 
CUMBERLAND, LANCASTER, YORK AND LEBANON 
COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA, AND GIVING 
THE HISTORY OF THE DENOMINA- 
TION IN THE ORIGINAL 
TERRITORY 




BY 

REV. DANIEL EBERLY, A.M., D.D. 

REV. ISAIAH H. ALBRIGHT, A.M., Ph.D. 

REV. C. I. B. BRANE, A.M. 



D.D. 



1911 



Press of 

Behney & Bright, Book and Commercial Printers 

610 Washington Street, Reading, Pa. 



By Transfer 

D. C. Public Library 

FEB 8 - 1933 



DEDICATION 

TO 

THE THIRD BISHOP AND UNMATCHED MISSIONARY 

OF THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 

THIS BOOK IS 

AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED 



^Att JhfflxttwAixm 




ANDMARK History of the United Brethren Church is a 
credit to the hearts and painstaking efforts of its well 
known authors. Their enthusiastic denominational 
attachments, their familiarity with the places of which 
they write, and their command of the best sources of information 
give a warm glow to their narrative, and command the confidence 
of the reader. The amount of incident and the number of illus- 
trations which, after the leveling and obliterating processes of scores 
of years they are able to give, are a matter of surprise. 

This volume will appeal strongly to various classes of readers. 
First, those whose birth or associations connect them closely with 
the older parts of the United Brethren Church will welcome the 
aid which it affords in making their knowledge more full and life- 
like. Then, those who have had little opportunity for acquaintance 
with the beginnings of the Church will find in this book that which 
will make more real to them the providence of God in raising up 
a new people for the advancement of his kingdom. Then again, 
the future historian will find nothing more to his purpose than such 
definite facts and self-illuminating examples as are found in the 
sketches given in this "Landmark History." 

A. W. DRURY. 

Bonebrake Theological Seminary 

Dayton, Ohio 
Easter, 1911 



%\\t Jkst Urn* 




LTHOUGH I am not the sole author of this volume I 
am asked to stand at the door and welcome the reader 
to the enjoyment of its contents, and even suggest 
what he may expect, and also where and how to find 
it. And so, before my pen is quite dry, and while the reader's eye 
lingers on the title page, I wish to greet and congratulate all who 
enter upon its perusal, because of the good things prepared for 
them by those who are associated with me in its authorship. 
Owing to the cost of culling from meager records and uncertain 
traditions the pioneer events of our history, to which these pages 
are devoted, our only compensation will be the reader's apprecia- 
tion of our findings, the pleasure we experienced in gathering them, 
and in the value of their preservation to succeeding generations, 
when our present modest membership shall have mounted up into 
millions. 

We deeply regret the death of Doctor Eberly, over whose 
departure we experience a sense of personal bereavement; but we 
are glad to have insisted, contrary to his wish and judgment, that 
his Lectures and Notes should form the first part of the book. But 
for that insistence, which led to the immediate preparation of his 
matter, all of which was in type before death came, his valuable 
contribution to this volume would have been lost to the Church. 
His Lectures relate to the origin and early history of the United 
Brethren Church in the eastern part of Cumberland County, Pa., 
including that which he knew and participated in from 1 840 to 
1860. 

Dr. Albright's chapters follow those of Dr. Eberly, and con- 
stitute a valuable part of the book. They have been in course of 
collection and preparation for years, and relate chiefly to the early 
history of the Church in York and Lancaster Counties, Pa., and 
include a class of matter that is both interesting and valuable. 



In the years to come, no matter how highly appreciated it may be 
now, the real value of the material he has gathered will appear. 

In the collection and preparation of our portion of this matter, 
which forms the closing chapters of the volume, the writer's aim 
and effort was to be accurate, taking pains to verify the results of 
his research. Still, enough errors have crept in to prove that the 
effort was human. Moreover, the final revision was made amid 
many official cares, and after the taxing toil of the day was over. 
So we present the results of our labor, imperfect though they be, 
believing that many will enjoy reading the book, and that those 
who do so will be benefited. 

Very Sincerely, 

C. I. B. BRANE 

Dayton, Ohio 
Easter, 1911 



Art ^Intxabnztitm 




T has been my pleasure to read advance proof sheets 
of a volume to be issued under the title, "Landmark 
History of The United Brethren Church," written by 
Rev. Daniel Eberly, A.M., D.D., Rev. Isaiah H. Albright, 
A.M., Ph.D., and Rev. C. I. B. Brane, A.M., D.D. 

This volume is composed of lectures delivered by the authors 
at different places during the past few years. Dr. Eberly writes on 
the history of our Church in the eastern part of Cumberland County, 
Penn'a; Dr. Albright presents the beginnings of our Church in 
Lancaster and York Gounties ; while Dr. Brane gives to the Church 
the history of our denomination in the original territory of the 
Church, including persons and families, homes, churches and 
schools. 

Every page written by these able writers is of special interest, 
not only to our Church in the localities of which they write, but 
also to the entire denominations ; for they write of places and 
periods which touch the early history of our Church life. Inter- 
esting details are presented that do not and can not appear in a 
general history of the denomination. 

The volume contains nearly 300 pages, richly illustrated. Facts 
are given in this book that are nowhere to be found in any of the 
historical writings of our Church. The authors are to be congratu- 
lated upon the completion of this contribution to the permanent 
literature of our denomination. A reading of the book will cause 
respect for the Church and enthusiasm in her service. 

W. R. FUNK. 

United Brethren Publishing House 
Dayton, Ohio 
March 1, 1911 



CONTENTS 



PART ONE 

By Rev. Daniel Eberly, A.M., D.D. 

Lecture the First . Page 1 5 

Lecture the Second 29 

The Illustrations 42 

Notes on Lectures 50 

PART TWO 

By Rev. I. H. Albright, A.M., Ph.D. 

Chapter I — Origin of the Church Page 87 

Chapter II — Lancaster County Churches '101 

Chapter III — York County Churches 1 49 



PART THREE 

By Rev. C. I. B. Brane, A.M., D.D. 

Chapter I — United Brethren in Lebanon County 

Chapter II — Some Maryland Marks 

Chapter III — Churches in Frederick County . . . 
Chapter IV — Some Pioneer Church Schools . . . 
Chapter V — St. Paul's Church, Hagerstown, Md. 
Chapter VI — Some Miscellaneous History . . . . 



Page 201 

" 228 
" 242 
" 254 
" 260 
" 285 



LECTURES ON 
THE ORIGIN AND EARLY HISTORY 

OF THE 

IN THE 

^Eastern $Jart of QLnmbtvlmb (Hamttu, ;|3a* 

BY 
DANIEL E B E R L Y, A. M., D. D. 



ERRATA 



The John Hershey, whose picture and house appear on pages 
251 and 253, was the son of Rev. John Hershey. "John Hershey's 
Barn," also on page 253, should have the title "Rev." ; but the pic- 
ture above the barn is that of "Rev." John Hershey's son, also 
named "John." 



JlrAte 




HESE lectures or addresses were delivered in the United 
Brethren Church at Shiremanstown, Pa., on the Sab- 
bath evenings of June 1 2th and 1 9th, 1 904. Some of 
those who composed the large audiences at the time 
have frequently requested me for their publication. To this I have 
now consented. 

Much of the information in the first lecture I received from 
Father John Shopp, born in 1 794, who was a boy of nine years 
when Otterbein held a meeting in his father's house in 1803. From 
him also I obtained the account of the great revival in 1819. 

From my father, Samuel Eberly, who became identified with 
the church in 1820; and from my uncle, Bishop Jacob Erb, who 
joined the Conference of 1823, I learned many things with regard 
to the early history of the United Brethren in the Cumberland Val- 
ley, some of which I have incorporated in my address. 

The second lecture recounts what I personally knew. With 
all the ministers from 1 840 to 1 860 I was acquainted, and readily 
recall the events of those days. And toward the closing part of 
that period became an active participant : "Quaeque ipse vidi, et quo- 
rum pars magna fui. " 

My parents enjoyed the visitations of our preachers, and their 
home was a "headquarters" for our ministers during many years. 
This afforded me in my youth a good opportunity to learn to know 
many of those noble and devoted men of the Church. 

In these lectures I have confined myself to but a small territory 
and have brought the history of events up only to 1 860, including 
that year. 

D. EBERLY. 

Hanover, Penn'a 

January 31, 1910 



LECTURE THE FIRST 




HE first preaching place of the Church of the United Breth- 
ren in Christ in the lower end of the Cumberland Valley- 
was in the house of the elder John Shopp. The manor of 
Paxton or Louther embraced all the land between the 
Conodoguinet and Yellow Breeches creeks, bounded on 
the west by the road immediately below Shiremanstown, 
and on the east by the Susquehanna River. This manor was surveyed in 
1 765, and divided into twenty-eight lots or parcels. Lot No. 26, of 209 acres, 
was purchased from the heirs of William Penn by Jonas Seely, afterwards by 
Mannesmith, and then by Schnebele. On the 20th day of September, 1 774, 
Ulrich Shopp bought this tract of land, which was called Manington. He 
died in 1 788, and then his son John, born in 1 761, became the owner. About 
the year 1 787 he married Anna Hershey, of Dauphin County. The Hershey 
family became early identified with the revival movement of the Rev. Martin 
Boehm, and lived in the immediate vicinity of Isaac Long, in whose barn and 
orchard the great meeting was held, about the year 1 768, when Otterbein 
and Boehm first met. Father Boehm made an evangelical tour to what was 
then called New Virginia as early as 1761. And persons residing in Lancas- 
ter and Berks Counties who desired to cross the Susquehanna River used 
either the Harris Ferry at Harrisburg or Wright's Ferry at Columbia ; by the 
first way the friends in the valley at Carlisle, Greencastle, Hagerztown, Boons- 
boro, and Antietam were visited, and by the second those in the York and 
Spangler Valleys, Littlestown, Frederick and Middletown Valley in Maryland. 
Hence, when toward the close of the 1 8th century and the early part of the 
19th, Rev. Martin Boehm made his ministerial rounds through the Cumber- 
land Valley in Pennsylvania, and the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, he found 
both a home and a preaching place in the house of John Shopp and his wife, 
Anna Hershey. This became a centre of evangelical life, visited by the early 
fathers of the United Brethren Church, and here the Gospel truth was pro- 
claimed by Geeting, Pfrimmer, Grosh, Kreider, Neidig, Mayer, and the 
Hersheys. Bishop Newcomer was here twice in the year 1 800, March 24th 
and October 3d; twice in 1801, May 1 7th and December 3rd, and May 28th, 
1802. In his Journal he writes: "On the 8th day of October, 1803, a meeting 
commenced at Brother Shopp's ; Father Boehm opened the meeting and 

15 



16 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

preached with great power. The Word reached the heart, many were deeply 
affected. The slain of the Lord were found lying in every direction, lamenting 
and crying aloud for mercy. Many obtained peace with God in the pardon of 
their sins. Love feast held on Sabbath morning, the brethren and sisters spoke 
very feelingly and with great liberty of the dealings and mercies of God. It 
was a refreshing season. Father Otterbein preached with great power and 
energy. The grace of God wrought powerfully among the people." 

From this we learn that both Boehm and Otterbein, as early as 1 803, 
preached in the house of John Shopp. 

It was while on a visit to this place that Otterbein preached in Peace 
Church, called in the German Friedens Kirche, about half a mile north of 
Shiremanstown. It is a large stone structure, with galleries and pipe-organ, 
built by the German Reformed denomination in the year 1 798, during the 
pastorate of the Reverend Anthony Hautz, who had studied theology at Lan- 
caster, Penn'a, with Rev. Dr. Hendel, a brother-in-law of Bishop Otterbein, 
both being married to sisters, the daughters of Abraham LeRoy, a French 
Huguenot. At the house of Dr. Hendel, Otterbein became acquainted with 
the young student of divinity, and formed a friendship that remained 
through life. 

Hautz completed his studies with Dr. Hendel in 1 786. He served several 
congregations in Lancaster County, and in 1 788 took charge of a Reformed 
congregation at Harrisburg, and ten years later he accepted a call to Carlisle 
and the affiliating congregations of Trindle Spring, Churchtown and Friedens 
Church. At the latter place he had already, in 1 793, effected an organization 
and preached in the school-house there in 1797. Rev. Hautz treated the 
early United Brethren ministers in the most courteous and friendly manner. 

When the corner-stone of Peace Church was laid, on the 1 2th day of 
June, 1 798, Rev. George Geeting delivered the first discourse, a Lutheran 
minister by the name of Herbst the second, and Rev. Christian Newcomer 
gave an exhortation, after which the pastor, Rev. Anthony Hautz, delivered 
an address and concluded with a dedicatory ceremony and prayer. In the 
afternoon Geeting and Newcomer rode in company with the Rev. Mr. Hautz 
to his residence in Carlisle, were lodged and kindly entertained by him for 
the night. 

The following year, 1 799, January 23, as Newcomer writes, "I spoke at 
Rupp's School House from II Peter 1:5. The German Reformed minister, 
Rev. Anthony Hautz, was present and gave an exhortation. After meeting 
we rode together to Carlisle, his place of residence, and stayed with him for 
the night ; he entertained me with brotherly love." 

From different sources we learn that Rev. Mr. Hautz was zealous and 
earnest in his preaching, hospitable and kind, yet firm and determined when 
he believed it to be his duty to oppose. But he was dearly beloved by very 
many of the best people in the various congregations which he served. It 
was under his preaching that Jacob Albright, the founder of the Evangelical 
Association, was first awakened to a new and a better life. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 17 

Any student of the status of church life at this time will readily perceive 
the dissimilar elements that were brought together in one large organization, 
when men of advanced piety and holy aspirations were associated in ecclesi- 
astical relation with those who not only had no interest in a truly spiritual 
life, but who were hostile to every semblance of true devotion. The natural 
sequence was that some, in order to enjoy a service in which a singleness of 
aim gave unity and afforded a common sympathy, withdrew and formed new 
affiliations. Though the number at first was not great, it still formed a nucleus 
about which the accretions became positive, able not only to assert, but also 
to maintain a right to existence. To those worshipping at the house of John 
Shopp there was a unaminity of spirit, singleness of purpose, and an agree- 
ment as to the liberating power of true regeneration. This was the keynote 
of every individual experience related, the evidence held aloft by each pro- 
fessor of religion, and the claim to that foundation laid in Zion whereby the 
soul exhumed from the grave of sin is resuscitated to a new and a nobler life. 

The revival power manifested at the great meetings in Lancaster County 
during the last quarter of the eighteenth century was carried as sacred fire to 
be placed upon the altar in the house of Father Shopp and his devoted wife, 
and thus to diffuse saving grace and life-giving power among the neighbors 
and friends. The effort for good was not exhausted with the inception, but has 
increased in power and efficiency for a century, as attested not only by the fruit 
remaining at home, but also by the hallowed impulses that gave inspiration to 
those who migrated to settle up the wilds and fertile lands of the great West. 

The minutes of the Conferences from 1 800 to 1818 show that a system 
of pastoral visitation and ministerial work similar to circuit travelling was 
maintained, and in this way Shopp's home was known as a preaching place 
by those already named, and especially by John Neidig, Joseph Hoffman, 
Samuel Huber, Jacob Wingert, David Snyder, Henry Kumler, Sr., and Chris- 
tian Smith. 

At the Conference of 1810, held in the house of John Cronise, in Freder- 
ick County, Maryland, it was resolved, "That all preaching places in Maryland 
and on the west side of the Susquehanna in Pennsylvania shall be served by 
the preachers as well as they can, and that all places shall be visited twice 
during the year by the other preachers." At the Conference of 1812, "it was 
ordered that Abraham Mayer and Jacob Baulus shall be placed as elders to 
have oversight of the district between the Potomac and the Susquehanna 
Rivers." At this time new places of worship were being added in the 
valley. 

In the year 1810, Christian Erb moved with his family from his farm, 
situated two miles southeast of Manheim in Lancaster County, to a farm which 
he purchased in Cumberland County, on the west banks of the Susquehanna, 
midway between Wormleysburg and West Fairview, directly opposite the 
city of Harrisburg. His wife was Elizabeth Hershey, daughter of Christian 
Hershey, who resided but a mile and a half from Isaac Long. She was a 
sister of Abraham and of Christian Hershey, early ministers of the United 



18 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

Brethren Church, of whom Rev. Henry Spayth, in his history, records : "The 
two Hersheys, Christian and Abraham, lovely in youth, serving the Lord, 
nobly bearing the burden and heat of the day. Their father before them had 
opened his house and substance to the then rising Church, for the preaching 
of the Gospel, and which continued as such by his children for many years. 
Christian moved to Iowa. Abraham, the lovely, friendly Abraham, has gone 
to rest." 

When Christian Erb and his wife, Elizabeth Hershey, became settled in 
their new home, they established a place for preaching the Gospel. The 
members of our Church in the counties of Lancaster, Berks and Dauphin, 
when on their way to Maryland or Virginia, or to meetings in Sherman's 
Valley, Buffalo Valley, Path Valley, Turkey Valley and Amberson's Valley, 
crossing the Blue Mountain at Sterrett's Gap, would pass over the river by the 
ferry near Erb's residence and spend the night at this Christian home. On 
a certain occasion eight preachers, some of whom had their wives along, 
tarried for the night. They were on their way to Pfoutz's Valley, where a 
quarterly meeting was to be held. That evening, supper being ended, they 
had preaching, exhortation, singing and praying. People got into the spirit 
to such a degree that it became impossible to close the exercises at the regular 
time. Christopher Grosh, one of the grandest and most devoted preachers, 
was present. He had retired, but the singing and shouting had precluded 
sleep, and so he directed Christian Smith to arise and go down stairs and 
terminate the services. The orders were given, but the devotions were irre- 
pressible, and were protracted to the early dawn. After breakfast the entire 
company went on the way rejoicing. This continued to be a regular preach- 
ing place, visited by the active ministers in the eastern portion of the Church. 

Bishop John Russel, when a young man, travelled an immense circuit 
extending from Hagerstown to the Susquehanna River, and had in the list of 
his regular appointments Shopps, near Shiremanstown, and Erbs, near Worm- 
leysburg. This was in the year 1818; the next year he went with Bishop 
Newcomer to Ohio at the urgent demand for ministerial workers there. He 
was a man of splendid physique, with large frame, over six feet tall, very 
muscular and of great activity. At the time he was preaching on this charge 
he was a young man of nineteen years. Jacob Erb, who then was a boy of 
fourteen, related how Russel one morning went to their spring to wash his 
hands and face. He had preached the evening before, and during the night 
a deep snow had fallen. From the spring to the house there was considerable 
of an acclivity, and Russel, with his wet hands and face, made this ascent 
with such prodigious leaps in the snow that they reminded him of the vigor- 
ous springs of a deer. 

Christian Erb died in the year 1 820. His widow moved to Wormleys- 
burg, where she resided for many years, and maintained regular preaching 
in her house, in which she took a deep interest. She attained to the good 
age of eighty-five years, retaining a clearness of mind and a cheerfulness of 
spirit and a vivacity of disposition truly remarkable. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 19 

It is a striking coincidence that Anna Hershey, the wife of John Shopp, Sr., 
and Elizabeth Hershey, the wife of Christian Erb, both reached the age of 
eighty-five years ; both were born in Lancaster County and buried in Cum- 
berland County, the one in Shopp's graveyard near Shiremanstown, the other 
at the Poplar Church, not far from West Fairview. They were cousins, and 
in their houses were entertained the first preachers of the United Brethren 
Church in the lower end of the Cumberland Valley. We can hardly over- 
estimate the importance of these two pious women in the inchoation and 
early development of the rising denomination. 

In the year 1819, a powerful revival of religion occurred in the house of 
John Shopp. During that year a young man, born in York County, named 
James Neiman, was employed as a hired hand on the farm of Mr. Shopp. 
This man and Samuel Shopp, a son, went to hear Rev. Abraham Mayer 
preach at the house of a Mr. Brandt on the Conodoguinet, several miles 
below Hoguestown. Both were powerfully impressed by the Word preached. 
About one week after this, Neiman's brother died in York County. Rev. 
John Neidig officiated at the funeral. His sermon wrought still deeper con- 
viction ; and Neiman felt the burden of his heart to be intolerable. In the 
deep anguish of his soul he approached Father Shopp's son John, who was 
then in his twenty-sixth year, and no professor of religion, and related to him 
the extreme grief of his mind, and earnestly requested him to go to Dauphin 
County and ask Rev. John Neidig to come over and hold a meeting and pray 
with him. The request was granted. John Shopp, Jr., took his horse and 
rode to Father Neidig's house, but did not find him at home. Then he went 
to Rev. Jacob Roop's residence, and he came. Soon after the arrival the 
announcement was made through the neighborhood that a meeting was to 
be held that evening, and at an early hour people began to assemble. While 
the family and guest were seated at the supper table a young lady named 
Nancy Baker entered the room and took a chair. Presently she began to 
weep aloud, revealing not only her own feelings, but presenting an index of 
the deep religious undercurrents in that community. At the appointed hour 
Father Roop preached the Word which proved a "savor from life unto life." 
Penitents who cried aloud for pardon were enabled to rejoice in the freedom 
of a glorious regeneration. On that night John himself, who had gone for 
the preacher, was converted ; and two years later the mantle of his dying 
father fell upon his shoulders, which he bore with a modest dignity and a 
consecrated fidelity for almost three-fourths of a century. His brother Chris- 
tian being one of the inquirers, at first became enraged at the excitement, but 
soon forgot all amid the anxiety of his own soul, and found peace by faith. 
His brother David, but a boy, at first alarmed, was consoled, and felt that he 
was a child of grace. His brother Samuel sought and found the pearl of 
great price, and so did his brother Jacob. Thus in the same night were the 
five sons of the elder John Shopp brought into a glorious redemption ; and 
also three of his daughters, Sarah, Annie and Catharine ; two daughters, 



20 LANDMARK HISTORY OFT HE 

Elizabeth and Frances, having previously been added to the believers in 
Christ. 

At this meeting quite a number also of neighbors were converted, some 
of whom became useful Christian workers, and who took a decided stand to 
assert and to maintain what they believed to be the truth. 

James Neiman, at whose instance this meeting had been called, was not 
disappointed in his fervent aspirations for peace with God. Emancipated 
from the thraldom of sin, exultingly he entered upon a new and a better life. 
He at once became an important factor in the work of morality and piety of 
his neighborhood. The doctrine of experimental religion at that time found 
great opposition from unconverted church members, and therefore there was 
a pressing necessity for leaders of courage and talent to guide and direct the 
movements of those who wished to march on the elevated plains of a higher 
life. Neiman had enlisted for the conflict, and immediately took his stand. 
At home he began as an exhorter; afterwards he entered the ministerial 
ranks and became an efficient and devoted preacher of the Gospel in the 
Pennsylvania Conference, and was a delegate to the General Conference of 
1833. Was a presiding elder in 1835. Later he moved to Richland County, 
Ohio, and entered the ranks of Gospel laborers there. 

Another minister who arose out of this revival was Christian Shopp. 
After doing good service in his native State, he migrated to the State of Ohio 
and located seven miles from Dayton. Afterwards he moved to Springfield. 
He died in the triumphs of the Gospel. 

This revival also furnished an excellent leader in the person of Michael 
Coover. He lived on a farm near Cedar Spring, about one mile from Shire- 
manstown. He opened his house for preaching, and took an active part in 
promulgating the doctrines of vital piety as taught by the ministers in our 
Church. Later on, he with his family moved to Ohio, where he did excellent 
work for true religion. He is buried in a cemetery at Dayton. 

Another preaching place of the early United Brethren ministers was on a 
farm contiguous to Shopps. The buildings are along the Harrisburg and Car- 
lisle Turnpike. Daniel Sherban, who was the owner, was one of the six men 
who had composed the vestry of the Lutheran congregation that in 1 806 
purchased the half interest of Peace Church from the German Reformed 
congregation ; being after that date jointly owned by these two denominations. 
He was a prominent member and officer for some years, but after a while 
became a member of the United Brethren, and the early preachers found in 
his house both a home and place to proclaim Gospel truth. 

Samuel Eberly, who had married in 1816 Catherine, the daughter of 
Christian Erb, moved in the spring of the following year on a farm adjoining 
the lands of both Shopp and Sherban. His parents were pious members of 
the Mennonite Church, but he, as yet, had made no religious profession. As 
he had great respect for Mr. Shopp and his family, and was a very warm 
friend of Mr. Sherban, he occasionally attended preaching at their houses. A 
sermon delivered by Rev. John Neidig greatly impressed sacred truths upon 



UNITED BRETRHEN CHURCH 21 

his mind and heart, which led him into a state of inquiry and prayer. He 
found the desired divine forgiveness and saving peace which God alone can 
give. Immediately he took an active part in the work of evangelization in 
the community. He served as class steward, class leader, exhorter and 
preacher. Became a member of the Pennsylvania Conference in 1832, and 
was ordained in 1835. His labors were confined mostly to places near his 
home, and was an active promoter in the building of the Shopp's Church in 
1827, and the one in Shiremanstown in 1854. He felt that the inconvenience 
of preaching in houses militated against the efficiency in reaching the masses. 
He desired that the multitudes should hear the Gospel in its simplicity, purity 
and power. He had learned of the great camp-meetings held in woods 
higher up in the valley, but as yet there was none in the lower part of Cum- 
berland. To accomplish this much-desired end he gave his woods, of some 
thirty acres, being that part of the farm which is the lower field, in the manor 
of Paxton. This campmeeting was in 1 822. Thousands of people assembled. 
On Sabbath morning the presiding elder, Abraham Mayer, of blessed memory, 
preached to the multitudes present. But the opposition was fierce. Formal 
ecclesiasticism was arrayed in grim hostility. Yet much good was done. 

A second campmeeting was held on the same ground in 1823. Rev. 
Samuel Huber and Rev. Henry Burtner were the ministers in charge. Many 
other clerical brethren were present, all of whom preached and spoke with 
zeal and earnestness. The animosity of the cold-hearted, the hostility of the 
unregenerate, the enmity of the sectarists and the turbulence of the ignorant 
were displayed at this camp also ; but with all that many received the truth 
in the love of the Gospel, and were induced to enter into a newness of life 
at once grand and inspiring. According to the divine promise to those 
chosen by the Master, that their fruit shall remain, the seed sown has pro- 
duced fruitage, and is still continuing to yield unto everlasting life, and 
proving a saving health unto the people. 

About the year 1 820 the United Brethren Church began to display an 
unprecedented vigor and life. The denomination seemed to assume a vastly 
different character, prepared to assert and maintain its right to existence and 
a respectable place among others. In his church history John Lawrence 
writes: "Not only was no progress made in numbers from 1810 to 1820, but 
undoubtedly there was a retrogression." The cause of this was "the lack of 
denominational spirit. Large numbers of those who, by the attraction of 
divine love, had formed themselves into United Brethren societies, refused 
to have their names recorded in a church book." The persistent tenacity 
of adhering simply to the use of the German language, and, in short, in 
failing to retain the children of the Church, to meet the demands made by 
the rapidly increasing change of language now forced upon them. Many of 
the sons of the German preachers and members moved with the current and 
sought homes elsewhere. Hence, "the pressing want of the Church was an 
efficient English-speaking itinerant ministry. Between 1816 and 1822 the 
Lord of the harvest sent forth a class of laborers who, under the blessing of 



22 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

heaven, and in conjunction with others already in the work, not only suc- 
ceeded in arresting the retrograde movement, but in adding largely to the 
numbers and strength of the Church." 

Among the efficient and able men who gave new life to the denomination 
and brought in an era of prosperity and substantial increase may be men- 
tioned William Brown, who was born in Cumberland County, Penn'a, in the 
year 1 796. He entered the ministry in 1816, and soon rose to a high 
position of usefulness ; and under his labors the Church advanced gloriously. 
He labored zealously in the East for twenty-two years, eighteen as circuit 
and station preacher and presiding elder, and four as bishop ; elected in 
1833 he held that position till 1837 with great acceptability. His influence 
in shaping the growth and character of our Church in the Cumberland Valley 
was marked and decided. He never faltered. No outside pressure could 
swerve him from his purpose nor induce him to allow the a^nievements 
already made to be neutralized by questionable affiliations with adventurers 
in the field of ecclesiastical innovation. His was a positive and decided 
effort to make the denomination a compact and cohesive organization. 

Jacob Erb, who was born in Lancaster County in the year 1 804, entered 
the ministry in 1823. He early saw the indispensable necessity of enrolling 
the converts in regular form and organizing them for church work. Many 
opposed all classification, and this was especially the case east of the Susque- 
hanna, where there were hundreds of members without enrollment. To him 
belongs the honor of forming the first United Brethren class there in the 
year 1827, at a place called Sherk's meeting-house, located in the northwes- 
tern portion of Lebanon County, about two and a half miles east of Grant- 
ville, Dauphin County. But classes were organized, years before, on the west 
side of the river. His shrewd and far-seeing policy led to the adoption of 
methods by which the results of earnest labors were permanently secured. 
He was elected a bishop in the Church in 1837, and served three terms. In 
German he was a forceful and eloquent preacher ; in English he ranked as 
a plain but very scriptural speaker. His style was clear, and he could 
always "hit the mark." He possessed a great talent in getting young men 
of ability to enter the ministry, and rejoiced in their success. 

These two men, William Brown and Jacob Erb, did a great work in 
shaping and directing the policy of our Church in the Cumberland Valley, 
especially from 1825 to 1837, in giving efficiency to the management during 
its most formative period. Of them we may say : "They rest from their 
labors ; for their works follow with them." 

Both of these men were aggressive, and demanded for the denomination 
the right for existence and recognition. Brown being eight years older than 
Erb was a preacher of six years' experience when Jacob was holding prayer 
meetings in the houses of the brethren. From what I learned years ago from 
those who participated, these meetings were carried on with wondrous power 
and in regular rotation in the houses of the members. One week the as- 
semblage was at John Shopp's, the next at Michael Coover's, then at Daniel 



UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH 23 

Sherban's, Samuel Eberly's, Christian Shopp's, George Renner's, Jacob Balm- 
er's, and so on. To those meetings came quite a number of people who had 
been converted, but still retained membership where there was opposition 
to prayer meetings and hostility against revivals of religion. Hence, frequently 
on the way home, the propriety of withdrawing membership from such 
congregations was discussed with considerable warmth. It is natural to love 
the church in which a person has been raised, and to break those ties causes 
disquietude and many anxious thoughts. On a certain evening, when re- 
turning from prayer meeting, young Erb entered into a controversy with 
great zeal on this subject with Jacob Coover, a most excellent Christian gen- 
tleman, who was very reluctant to sever the bonds of his church union. Mr. 
Coover said : "If I have a light to guide a company over a dangerous road 
on a dark night, am I justified in taking that light away from them ?" To 
this Mr. Erb responded : "If your company be composed of persons who 
appreciate the light, it would be very wrong to remove it ; but if the company 
be constituted of persons who, without discretion, are wielding bludgeons 
right and left, liable at any moment to extinguish your light and placing 
yourself in the dark with them, better get out." And Mr. Coover, not long 
afterwards, did get out. For many years he was a resident of Mechanicsburg, 
the first member of our Church in that town, around whom others gathered 
and a society formed in the old Union Church, which with years has grown 
into the present large congregation. 

In the year 1 824, when Jacob Erb was travelling on the Hagerstown 
circuit as junior preacher under Rev. Henry Burtner, of whom he always 
spoke in the highest terms of praise, he made a short visit to his mother at 
Wormleysburg. There he learned that the Rev. John George Pfrimmer was 
then in Harrisburg, having come East to see his old friends and to attend 
the Conference to be held at Rohrersville, Maryland. Mr. Erb at once 
determined to have him to preach. Consequently he crossed the river, and, 
as directed, went to the house of a Mr. Good and inquired of Mrs. Good 
whether the Rev. Mr. Pfrimmer was there. She did not answer promptly, 
but looked significantly toward a lounge on which a man was resting, dressed 
in Kentucky jean. That man was Pfrimmer. Presenting himself, he re- 
quested Mr. Pfrimmer to preach on the coming Sabbath morning at his 
mother's house in Wormleysburg. He responded that he had engaged to 
preach at that time in the Lutheran Church in Harrisburg (the one on Fourth 
Street, near the Pennsylvania Railroad depot) ; but he agreed to preach at 
the appointment on Sabbath evening, which was at Michael Coover' s, at 
Cedar Spring, near Shiremanstown. His friends, who had enjoyed his minis- 
trations years before, came gladly, forming an appreciative congregation. 

At the appointed hour Mr. Pfrimmer arose and said that in the morning 
at Harrisburg he had preached "Christ crucified; unto the Jews a stumbling- 
block and unto the Greeks foolishness." Now he would take an easier 
subject — the first and second verses of the seventy-sixth Psalm: "In Judah is 
God known : his name is great in Israel. In Salem also is his tabernacle, and 



24 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

his dwelling place in Zion." The sermon was grand, framed with great 
skill, and adapted not only to arouse and quicken, but also to guide and 
edify. His hearers were carried aloft by the words of his burning eloquence, 
and readily realized the great privilege in enjoying a sermon of such exqui- 
site beauty. 

On Monday forenoon he preached at Daniel Sherban's, about two miles 
from Coover's, his text being Isaiah second chapter, second and third verses : 
"And it shall come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the Lord's 
house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted 
above the hills ; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall 
go and say, Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the 
house of the God of Jacob ; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will 
walk in his paths ; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of 
the Lord from Jerusalem." The sermon was powerful. The theme just 
suited to his taste, for which his fine scholarship and theological acquirements 
fitted him. The full, firm, well-modulated tones of his voice, and his counte- 
nance beaming with intelligence and benignity, gave peculiar force to the 
fresh and striking thoughts, strongly and clearly expressed. A peculiar 
characteristic of his discourses was the manner of handling his divisions, 
giving a gradual increase of power to each proposition, elaborating and 
beautifying the argument until ideas standing out in bold relief challenged 
the admiration and won the approval of his auditors. As Glanville wrote : 

"Still rising in a climax, till the last, 
Surpassing all, is not to be surpassed." 

On that Monday morning at Daniel Sherban's, in concluding one of his 
propositions or divisions with classic gracefulness and terseness, with touch- 
ing earnestness and wondrous effect, his hearers had become so absorbed 
that all, with joy in their hearts, smiled. With an intelligible expression 
playing in his faco he said ; "Why do you smile ? It is true." To this a 
response came from the young preacher, Jacob Erb : "Because that which 
you say is true is what makes us glad." 

This was the last visit made by this able servant of the Lord to this 
neighborhood where in earlier years he had proclaimed the divine Word. 
He had gone West in 1808, and settled near Corydon, Indiana. As a result 
of his labors a church was built there in 1818 near his home, the first United 
Brethren church west of the Ohio River. He attended the General Confer- 
ence of 1825, and soon after closed his useful labors on earth. 

On the third day of April, 1826, the Pennsylvania Conference convened 
in the house of John Shopp. Bishops Newcomer and Kumler presided. 
John Neidig, Samuel Huber and David Baer wre elected presiding elders. 
Forty-two preachers were present, and one applicant was received on pro- 
bation. While the sessions were held at Shopp's, other members assisted in 
entertaining the preachers and caring for the horses, as that was the mode of 
travel then. 



UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH 25 

In review we see that the lower part of the valley was visited by United. 
Brethren preachers, first toward the close of the eighteenth century, and a 
preaching place established in the house of John Shopp, Sr. To this a second 
place was added in 1 8 1 in the house of Christian Erb ; later on a third in 
tho house of Daniel Sherban ; the revival of 1819 gave another in the house 
of Michael Coover. In 1823, October 22d, Bishop Newcomer preached at 
Eberly's from John fifth chapter, sixth verse. On the 27th at Shopp's from 
Malachi fourth chapter, first, second and third verses. In 1824, January 14th, 
had a meeting at Daniel Sherban's ; January 20th, preaching at Michael 
Coover's; January 24th, meeting at Renner's, lodged with Samuel Eberly. 
Sunday, August 29th, he had a sacramental meeting at Eberly's, spoke first 
from Psalm 126; had a blessed time. At night preached from Psalm 40 : 1-5; 
the grace of God wrought powerfully among the people. August 30th lodged 
with J ohn Shopp, and next day had meeting at Sherban's. This gives to us an idea 
as to how the work was carried on by the visiting superintendent ; and at the same 
time circuit preachers, appointed annually, travelled over this same territory. 

Soon after the Conference of 1826 the great inconvenience of worship- 
ping in private houses became apparent, and steps were taken with a view to 
the building of a church house. The membership had grown strong, and 
was amply able to erect a structure suitable for the purpose. Accordingly, a 
church was built in 1827 on Shopp's land, about a half mile below Shire- 
manstown. It was a commodious building, constructed of limestone, and was 
an honor to the membership of that day. Many of the active ministers of 
that time preached in that edifice. Bishop Newcomer makes the following 
record in his journal: "Sunday, October 14th, 1827: We had a sacramental 
meeting in the new meeting house at Shopp's. Brothers Neidig, Sneider, 
Winebrenner and others were present ; I spoke from John 3 : 1 4 to 1 8. 1 5th : 
We had a blessed time." Again — "Sunday, February 8th, 1 829 : I preached 
in Shopp's new meeting house from Luke 18: 1 to 8. The Lord was with 
us, and blessed the Word spoken. Brother Dreisbach preached at night, and 
I exhorted after him." This church for years belonged to what was called 
the Carlisle circuit. From the best information I could obtain it appears that 
Jacob Lehman was the preacher in 1826-27, and John Krock in 1827-28. 
William Scholde 1828-29, and John Schneider was presiding elder. In 
1 829-30 Ezekial Boring and William Brown had charge. It had become a 
prominent point on the circuit, and on the 22d day of March, 1 830, the 
Pennsylvania Conference convened there, presided over by Bishop Kumler, 
assisted by George Geeting. The General Conference of 1 829 had divided 
the old Conference, which had embraced the Pennsylvania and Virginia, yet 
the brethren all met together once more in this house. This Conference had 
the mournful duty of entering in its journal the deaths of Bishop Newcomer 
and Rev. Christopher Grosh. From 1830 to 1835 this congregation was 
served, in consecutive order, by John Schneider, John Smith, Andrew Ringer, 
Jacob Schneider, Francis C. Wilson, Ezekiel Boring, Peter Harman and 
Jacob Roop. 



26 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

On the 1 1th day of March, 1835, the Annual Conference convened in 
this church. Bishop Brown presided, Rev. Jacob Erb, chairman. The Con- 
ference at this time had eighty-three preachers. Revs. J. Erb, J. Neiman and 
J. Rider were elected presiding elders. There were eleven circuits and the 
Baltimore station. The circuits were large and the presiding elders did a 
great deal of what now would be called mission work. At this Conference 
Rev. Jacob Ritter was appointed preacher and served two years. His ser- 
vices were in the English language, and during his first year the German 
preaching was furnished by Rev. Jacob Roop, and the second year by Rev. 
Jacob Erb. 

Ritter was a man of ability and an able expositor of the Word. When 
the Allegheny Conference was set off he went along, and took an active part 
in establishing the Mount Pleasant College in Westmoreland County. He 
was the author of the work called "Ritter's Advice and Sketch Book," and 
he ranked high as a pastor. Later he studied medicine and became a prac- 
ticing physician. He became very old, and is buried at Liverpool, in Perry 
County. 

Frederick Gilbert was next appointed as English preacher, and served 
two years, 1837 and 1838. He saw a great deal of service in the pioneer 
work of opening up new fields. During his first year Rev. Daniel Funkhouser 
did the German preaching, and the second year John G. Snyder. 

The Rev. Enoch Hoffman had this charge in 1 839. He was a large man, 
of fine personal appearance, and a very good preacher. 

In 1 840 the English preacher's name was John Hirsh, assisted by John 
Hetzele. He was rather undersized in stature, but well built and muscular, 
and had the reputation of having Walker's dictionary at his tongue's end. 
It is certain he had a strong proclivity to use words of sesquipedalian length 
and of elaborating his arguments clothed in ornate and trenchant diction. 
He was an entertaining and instructive preacher, and gave good service to 
his people. 

Rev. Jacob Shollar served as preacher at this church two years, 1841 and 
1842. Hewas a native German, and an able expositor in that language. 
During his first year William Wagner and the second Alexander Owen were 
the English preachers. Shollar afterwards moved to Ohio, and attained to a 
great old age. He remained a member of the German Conference there 
until the Master called him to his eternal home. He was a good man, and 
did a grand work. I still have a clear recollection of a sermon which I heard 
him preach on a Christmas morning in Shopp's Church when I was between 
seven and eight years of age. The repetition of words in his text impressed 
themselves on my mind, probably to be retained. "Da Jesus gaboren war 
zu Bethlehem im Juedischen lande, zur zeit des Kcenigs Herodes, siehe, 
da komen die weisen von morgenlande gen Jerusalem und sprachen : 
Wo ist der neugeborne kcenig der Juden? Wir haben seinen stern gesehen 
im morgenlande, und sind kommen ihn anzubeten." 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 27 

About this time also William Beighel preached here by visits. He 
labored in the Allegheny Conference for many years. 

When the Conference of 1837 was assembled during the month of 
March in Franklin County, at the close of the session Bishop Heistand asked, 
"Where shall the next Conference be held ?" there was no response. It was 
a large body, and to furnish entertainment for all the members was a con- 
siderable burden. Rev. Ezekiel Boring presented a resolution that the Con- 
ference should convene in some town where there were no members of our 
Church, rent a hall, each pay for his own board and lodging, hurry business 
through and go home. At this juncture Jacob Erb, who had been assigned 
to the Dauphin circuit, arose and proposed to entertain the members of 
Conference at his own expense at his home in Wormleysburg. He had mar- 
ried the year previous, and was then keeping house. His proposition was 
accepted, and accordingly on the fifth day of March, 1 838, the session opened 
there. Bishop Hiestand presided, assisted by Erb, who had been elected 
bishop at the General Conference held since the last annual session. Ninety- 
eight preachers reported, and nine were received on probation. The next 
year the Allegheny Conference, which had been set off, began, and took 
quite a number away. The plan which he adopted to hold this session was: 
First, he rented from 'Squire Black, of that town, a large building which had 
been used for school purposes, in which to hold the meetings of Conference; 
second, he himself boarded forty preachers, and paid his sisters, who lived 
in the place, to board forty more ; the rest he assigned to places among his 
friends, and third, laid in a good supply of oats and hay for the horses ; and 
all passed off pleasantly. There was no trouble to get a place for next 
year. 

When we consider the men and the women of this period of time, from 
1827 to 1842, we have a subject worthy of reflection. The earnestness of 
purpose and the devotion to principle which animated and incited those men 
and women of noble aspirations and lofty purposes to impart a higher devel- 
opment of mental culture and moral conception induces us instinctively to 
accord to them our highest admiration. The period of time in its nature was 
formative — it was plastic. We then had but three States, Louisiana, Arkansas 
and Missouri, west of the Mississippi River. Many of our people in Pennsyl- 
vania were already wistfully looking towards the rich prairies of Illinois, the 
fertile valleys and river bottoms of Indiana and Ohio, and the trend was 
westward. But the itinerating preacher, with his horse and saddle-pockets, 
kept up with the march, and thus a communication was maintained in the 
brotherhood ; and by his evangelical visitation carried the message of peace, 
and thereby the bonds of a holy communion were preserved. It is evident 
that the faithful co-operation of the laity and ministry is what gave success to 
the work. The loyalty and piety of the lay members of the Church in open- 
ing their houses for divine service before churches were erected, the generous 
cheerfulness with which they welcomed the heralds of salvation to their 
homes, and with open-hearted kindness entertained them, stands a firm 



28 LANDMARK HISTORYOFTHE 

record of their fidelity that can never be effaced. They were the sturdy an- 
cestry, whose children, nurtured in homes where the Bible is the true stan- 
dard, have become the life and strength of a cultured Christian community. 
And those consecrated, self-sacrificing promulgaters of hallowed truth who 
without faltering went forth in the winter's cold and the summer's heat, amid 
sunshine and storm, who feared neither poverty nor dreaded persecution, 
gave evidence of the declaration of the Saviour : "Ye have not chosen me, 
but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth 
fruit, and that your fruit should remain." 

When the prophet of Jehovah stood on the shady margin of the Tigris 
and beheld the gorgeous display of Omnicience in the prefiguration of the 
destiny of nations, he broke forth in his peroration with words descriptive of 
the culminating joy of God's saints, which we may appositely inscribe as 
epitaphs on the monuments of these faithful servants of the Master : 

"The teachers that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament ; 
and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever." 




LECTURE THE SECOND 




N THE spring of 1 843 a new charge was formed of a part 
of the old Carlisle circuit, called "Shopp's Station," to be 
supplied by the Rev. John Fohl. It embraced also Fishing 
Creek, Wormleysburg, West Fairview, and an appointment 
near the Blue Mountain. Mr. Fohl came to this work 
bearing the reputation of an efficient preacher. He was 
twenty-eight years of age, but had seen successful service in the mountains 
of Western Pennsylvania, had travelled a circuit in Washington and Green 
Counties, and after two years' labor was appointed to the Chambersburg 
circuit ; and while there about one hundred persons were converted, which 
so strengthened the Chambersburg congregation that it was made a station 
the following year, and he took charge. 

The next three years he served as presiding elder, and then was ap- 
pointed to Shopp's Station, where he labored with marked success during the 
years 1843-44-45. His residence during these years was in Shiremanstown. 
When he entered upon his duties here, there was still considerable religious 
agitation. There was an evident subsidence in the emotional display of those 
who but recently were carried on the current of the Millerite delusion, but 
still there was an unrest. During the past winter the excitement in Shire- 
manstown and vicinity had been intense. An old gentleman named Father 
William Miller predicted that the world would positively come to an end on 
the 23d day of May, 1843. For weeks in succession there was preaching in 
the Bethel, of Shiremanstown, and for a while meetings were held day and 
night, every available spot in the house was taken up, and at last became a 
seething hot-bed. William Miller himself preached several times, while 
Litch, Osier, Himes, Storrs, Gates and others continued to hold forth their 
prophetical delineations and arousing the imaginations of old and young to 
such a degree that some were almost demented. Few, if any, of the United 
Brethren were drawn into the delusion. 

William Miller was born in Pittsneld, Mass., in 1 78 1 ; died in Low Hamp- 
ton, Washington County, New York, December 20, 1849. In the war of 
1812 he was captain of a company organized to protect the Northern frontier. 

29 



30 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

"He was a farmer whose early facilities for education were slight, and. he 
seems never to have attained to any higher qualities of Biblical criticism ; but 
in 1833 he began to lecture on the speedy second coming of Christ. His 
earnest and confident manner attracted the attention of many persons of 
ability, and after a few years of constant travel and preaching, his disciples 
were reckoned at from thirty to fifty thousand." Not only in this part of the 
Cumberland Valley, but also in the adjacent County of York, near where 
Goldsboro is now located, in an old church building, which was removed to 
give place when the Northern Central Railroad was built, meetings were held 
and great excitement prevailed. 

When the time arrived for the final consummation, these believers, with 
others from Middletown and vicinity on the east side of the Susquehanna, 
assembled on the previous evening on Hill Island prepared to ascend with 
the glorified Lord. A meeting was held in the farmhouse on the island, 
where speaking, prayer and singing were the order. After midnight the 
company moved out on the top of the highest elevation to await the Lord's 
coming, and I was once told, but will not vouch for the accuracy of the story, 
that a big, burly York County woodchopper from the Bald Hills was among 
these faithful ones, and having become exceedingly drowsy from the pro- 
tracted wake, fell asleep. As the night air along the river was rather chilly 
some of the more prudent started a blazing wood-fire to warm themselves, 
which aroused the big brother, and, terrified, he leaped up and exclaimed : 
"Waked up in limbo, just as I expected !" 

The reaction which came after such intense perturbation was in many 
cases highly pernicious in effect. It is true, a great many professed conver- 
sion, but a large number soon relapsed. Conversion implies the cool exercise 
of reason, and when pure agitation assumes the place of reason, the transi- 
tion into a better state becomes nugatory. A cold, sullen indifference which 
followed the commotion seemed to pervade the community, and rendered 
Gospel work extremely difficult. 

But Mr. Fohl devoted himself to his calling. He reorganized the classes 
at Shopp's Church. Class No. 1 , Samuel Eberly leader, composed of forty- 
one members; Class No. 2, Isaac Neidig leader, composed of forty-eight 
members. These eighty-nine members were among the most highly respected 
and honorable citizens in that part of the country. Some twelve or more of 
the best farms in the immediate vicinity were owned by brethren who be- 
longed to Shopp's Church when Fohl was pastor. The people liked his 
preaching, and he was regarded as a very pious, conscientious and earnest 
man, leading an exemplary life, wholly consecrated to the ministry of the 
Word. He devoted a great deal of time to pastoral visitation, and succeeded 
in keeping his members united and in gaining accessions. His greatest 
success was on the other parts of the circuit, for he built churches in the 
Fishing Creek Valley and at West Fairview, at both of which places he had 
excellent revivals. He completed his three years with good results, his work 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 31 

showing him to be a minister approved of God. His ministry will long be 
remembered. 

The first half of this decade still retained much of the pristine spirit and 
mode of the old-fashioned quarterly meeting. On such occasions the breth- 
ren, and sisters too, came in vehicles and some on horseback, from Lebanon, 
York, Dauphin and Perry Counties, and were entertained by the members 
on their large farms. The interest at such times was intense. I can well 
remember the preparation which was made for these events ; the stables put 
in order for the horses, and the available room of the houses prepared for 
lodging. Bread, pies and cakes baked ; meats provided, and especially plenty 
of chickens put in readiness for immediate use. This, of course, was all- 
important. 

Among the many preachers who came to those quarterly meetings I 
may mention the Light brothers — John, Casper and Joseph. I have a dis- 
tinct recollection of the first two of these. John Light was father of the Rev. 
Dr. Ezekiel Light, late chaplain of the Soldier's Home at Dayton, Ohio. "He 
entered the ministry in 1 830, and was an able expositor of the Word, very 
argumentative, and sometimes when needed used wit and sarcasm, and 
withal quite eloquent. He was repeatedly chosen presiding elder of the 
eastern district of the Conference. Casper, his brother, was two years 
younger, and began to preach the same time that his brother John did. His 
preaching was of an inspiring character, and generally enthused the hearers 
with the hopes and joys of his themes. He was very gifted in singing, knew 
nearly all the hymns in the book, and had a magnificent, well-trained voice. 
In person he was above six feet, well-proportioned and erect in carriage, and 
both genial and impressive in personal appearance. He served the Confer- 
ence both as pastor and presiding elder. He died August, 1857, almost 
fifty years old." His coming at the quarterly meetings was hailed with de- 
light, for good preaching and grand singing were then assured. When he 
led, followed by Isaac Neidig, Samuel Eberly and the Balmers, they made it 
ring. At these meetings the Lord's Supper was celebrated, and the example 
of washing the saints' feet was observed. All the exercises were highly 
spiritual. 

During Rev. Fohl's pastorate a Conference was held in Shopp's Church, 
which opened February 21,1 844. Bishop Erb presided, assisted by Rev. 
John Russel. This Conference placed on record the death of Father John 
Neidig and Rev. James Sutton. Neidig was a grand man and a most ex- 
cellent preacher. He had a clear, musical voice, his movements were grace- 
ful and expressive, and his knowledge of the Bible extensive. "Entering 
upon the work in the morning of life, he endured all the burdens without 
shrinking, and when the day declined and the snowy locks covered his head, 
he labored on still with undiminished zeal ; and when the last hour came it 
still found him in the field." He had often preached the truth in the house 
where now his demise was officially announced. Among those ordained we 
find the name of Rev. John A. Sand. He was a native of Alsace, and in 



32 LANDMARK HISTORYOFTHE 

youth spoke the French language with ease. He was a splendid German 
preacher, and did a grand work. His greatest -achievement, however, was in 
his long pastorate of the old Otterbein Church in the city of Baltimore. There 
hundreds of excellent Germans were brought into the Church under his 
labors. 

At this Conference ten new preachers were received. In this number 
was Simon Noll, who for more than half a century was an efficient worker in 
the ministerial ranks of the East Pennsylvania Conference. He was alike 
known in the rich valleys of Lebanon, Lancaster, Berks, and in the coal 
mountains of Schuylkill and Lehigh. He labored in regions where others 
dreaded to go. Casper Light and John Russel were elected presiding elders. 
I well recollect that assemblage. All came either on horseback or in gigs. 
My father had his share of the horses, and the stables were filled. All the 
other members who lived on farms had their quota. During the preceding 
year my father had built a new brick house on the farm, and though com- 
pleted was not yet occupied as a residence ; the old building, which was 
commodious, being still used. The new building, with stoves in the rooms, 
furnished excellent facilities for the meetings of committees and for purposes 
of consultation. There was a cellar under the whole house, and two of my 
older sisters engaged me to unbolt the outside cellar door, and when the 
committee met for the examination the girls stealthily entered, and at the 
inside stairs could easily hear what went on above. My sisters, who were 
young and inquisitive, found considerable amusement in the scrutinizing ex- 
amination to which a young candidate was subjected with regard to his 
matrimonial expectance. I will not say that the questioning was pressed 
beyond the bounds of politeness, but I am certain that young ministers at 
this time would regard such a process of testing qualification with dis- 
favor. 

After meals the preachers who stayed at our house, and some others 
who gathered in, would meet in the rooms of the new house and discuss in 
their conversation the matters of interest in the church work. To my youth- 
ful mind it was delightful to hear them talk. I still recall a conversation 
which the Rev. John Denig, who joined Conference in 1839, had with Rev. 
Nehemiah Altman, who was converted from Judaism to Christianity in the 
year 1837, with regard to God's ancient people. Mr. Altman proved a very 
efficient and faithful minister of the Gospel. His parents and friends in 
Europe were wealthy and influential, and when they learned of his reception 
of Christianity they disowned and disinherited him. But he served the 
Church and the cause of Christ well, and died in enjoyment of the Saviour's 
love. The large fine church on the corner of Scott and St. Peters Streets, 
Baltimore, stands as a monument of his untiring industry and resourceful 
capabilities. 

Rev. Jacob Smith Kessler took charge of Shopp's Station in 1 846. He 
was an earnest preacher and a most faithful pastor. The interests of his 
circuit were pressed with indefatigable zeal during the term of his incum- 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 33 

bency. According to his biographer, when he entered upon his work "he 
had to encounter the heresies of Millerism and Materialism." By the latter 
I suppose he means the teachings of George Storrs, which had gained some 
foothold. These doctrines he openly attacked in the pulpit in two sermons 
delivered in the morning and evening of the same day, though against the 
protest of some of his own weak-hearted members, which sermons, he states, 
put "the Materialists to route." I think the statement given in the biography 
is slightly overdrawn. It is certain that some of the members were in sym- 
pathy with the new-fangled views, but they were not the efficient workers. 
The members upon whom the hopes of the Church rested were never 
swerved from their former position, and maintained their integrity without 
faltering. It is always well for a congregation to know upon whom reliance 
can be placed in time of emergency. 

In the latter part of this year a "precious revival broke out, which re- 
sulted in scores of conversions and accessions to the Church. The congre- 
gation became unusually large and interesting ; and harmony and religious 
prosperity prevailed." Rev. Kessler's biographer states : "The fall and winter 
seasons of 1 846 were very unhealthy in the vicinity of the Susquehanna 
River. This greatly increased Mr. Kessler's pastoral labors. He visited, 
some days, as high as twenty families, and found sick persons in almost every 
house, and in some from four to six prostrated, mostly with chills and fever. 
Much of his time was occupied also in attending funerals, there being many 
deaths within the bounds of his field." 

The first year closed in peace, and the charge enjoyed prosperity. He 
was reappointed for the year 1847, and this year was noted for great revivals 
on his circuit. Both at Shopp's Church and at West Fairview revivals were 
in progress at the same time, and continued for months and to such an extent 
that he did not take time to attend the sessions of the Annual Conference, 
which appointed him to serve a third year, 1 848, which he spent in the most 
abundant labors. When his three years drew to a close, which then was the 
positive limit of a pastorate, he felt that God had owned his labors. He left 
the record "that he was never more loth to bid adieu to a field of labor, when 
the time came to leave, than to do so to this one." 

Mr. Kessler was a man of very pleasant address, in personal appearance 
was quite dignified ; while his apparel was plain, it was exceedingly neat and 
clean ; his smoothly shaven face and white cravat revealed the fact that he 
was not of a slovenly nature. His tender sympathy was evident when he 
approached to greet any one. Even the unconverted loved him, had faith in 
his piety, and manifested toward him the highest respect and deference. He 
often visited my parents and family during his pastorate of three years. He 
came as a minister, and never gave any silly exhibitions of senseless talk, his 
demeanor being that of a conscientious, dignified, kind-hearted, prudent ser- 
vant of God, whose cardinal object was to win souls. For him I cherish the 
highest sentiments of personal respect, and I esteem him as one chosen by 
the Master. 



34 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

During his three years' pastorate he held two campmeetings in a large 
woods one-fourth of a mile below Shiremanstown. The woods extended 
from the Simpson road to the State road, and the one-half belonged to David 
Shopp's farm, and the other half to Jacob Shopp's farm. My parents had a 
tent each time, and I was there a great deal. A number professed conversion 
and powerful preaching characterized the meetings. 

At one of these camps Bishop Russel delivered a discourse long remem- 
bered in that vicinity. The Church of God, or Winebrennerians, had for 
some time published a church paper in Shiremanstown called the "Gospel 
Publisher," which was somewhat radical and sometimes made indiscriminate 
attacks on others. Bishop Russel, in one of his visits to Shopp's Church, had 
spoken words in his sermon which were regarded by the proprietors of the 
paper as rather caustic, and hence he was scored in the paper with equal 
severity. But now, at the camp, where thousands were assembled, the 
Bishop's time came. His tall form arose in the pulpit; slowly he announced 
his text, and with knit brow and austere countenance he began in German : 
"Ich bin bcese, du bist boese," and then, with a sweet smile, "alle sind bcese." 
I need not say that he took the audience with perfect surprise. Every hearer 
had thought that by the word "boese'' he used the primary meaning, angry ; 
but they instantly saw the theological term "depraved" was meant. That day 
the Bishop was in his glory. He certainly mowed a broad swathe. He sub- 
jected his critics to an excoriation not soon to be forgotten. The sermon 
throughout was a masterpiece of logic and rhetoric and unction. Opposers 
were disconcerted, and his friends and brethren were highly elated and 
pleased. 

At this campmeeting Rev. Martin Lohr, a resident of Hanover, was pres- 
ent. He had moved to Hanover from Littlestown in 1829, and in 1847 was 
instrumental in building a church on Abbottstown Street, near the square, 
which was dedicated October 24th of that year. This church was burned in 
1878, in a conflagration that destroyed other buildings, but his widow, Mrs. 
Lohr, rebuilt the church at her own expense during the same year. Rev. 
Martin Lohr and his wife were among the best people our denomination 
had. He early ceased his itinerating work, and gave himself to our Church's 
welfare at home. He engaged in banking and was successful. He left at 
the time of his death a large estate, and as he had no children living he gave 
a large part of it to our home work and to foreign missions. 

The Rev. Alexander Owen was appointed to Shopp's Station in 1 849, 
and reappointed in 1850 and 1851. Hence this charge enjoyed his services 
three years. He was a man of acknowledged ability. He was tall, strongly 
built, and naturally gifted with a powerful constitution ; had a well-formed 
head, with rather dark complexion and with a physiognomy indicating firm- 
ness. In the pulpit his bearing was unaffected and dignified. In social life 
there was a reserve mingled with simplicity and courtesy of manner, in- 
creased by a pleasant smiling countenance. As a speaker he was effective 
and ornate. His pulpit productions were clear, solid and finished. In debate 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 35 

his powers as a polemic were displayed to their best advantage. Then he 
was cool, keen, logical and, when the occasion demanded, was sarcastic. In 
1850 he had a public discussion on baptism at Shiremanstown with Elder 
Jacob Keller, of the Winebrennerians, which lasted six days, the first five 
days being given to the mode, and the last day to the subjects. The debate 
was held in the Bethel, and attracted large audiences. He bore himself 
throughout like a master, and after that no one referred to him as a man to 
be trifled with. He won for our Church and ministry an elevated place in 
the public esteem never before enjoyed. 

I had the pleasure of being present at the debate, and also heard some 
of the best public efforts of his life. In 1855 I listened to an address of his 
before the trustees, professors and students of Mount Pleasant College ; and 
in 1857 to his discourse on the province of the pulpit. The first part he 
delivered in the morning and the second part in the evening of the same 
day. This I heard him deliver at Mount Pleasant, and repeat at Madison, in 
Westmoreland County. At that time he was president of the Mount Pleasant 
College. I also heard his baccalaureate sermon before the graduating class 
of Otterbein University, Ohio, in 1859, when president of that institution of 
learning. These were all prepared with the greatest care, written out in full, 
accurately committed to memory, and then delivered with rhetorical skill and 
eloquence. 

To the great loss of the Church he fell a victim to excessive labor. His 
once powerful constitution impaired, rapidly ran towards a termination, and 
while on a visit for his health to the Cumberland Valley, where he had spent 
so many years of his life, he suddenly died at Newville, in the house of John 
Hursh, who was one of our most highly esteemed brethren, at the early age 
of forty-one years, mourned by all those who knew him. He is buried in 
the cemetery at Oakville. 

While he was pastor in charge, a Sabbath School was organized at Shopp's 
Church. 

Rev. Jacob C. Smith, by appointment, took charge of this circuit in 1852. 
Some years before he had preached his first sermon in this church. Those 
who heard him then already predicted that he was going to be a good 
preacher. At all events, he became a very successful and efficient pastor, 
and served the Church well. But there was such a strong demand for his 
services in other places that he was allowed to remain but one year, and 
then, contrary to all desires, he was moved, and Rev. Samuel Enterline was 
appointed to Shopp's Station in 1853. He had seen much service in the 
Church, and was very efficient in building up societies and promoting re- 
vivals of religion. He was an effective preacher in the German language, 
but was very little exercised in the English, which militated greatly against 
his usefulness on this field, where the English had become predominant. His 
work will continue. To him the Church will owe a debt of constant gratitude 
for his wonderful labors. Not to speak of other places, today in York 
County, Penn'a, and Carroll County, Maryland, where we have good churches 



36 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

and numerous members, all are the outgrowth of his planting. His friendly, 
smiling face, his open-hearted cordiality, won the hearts of the people ; his 
prayers and his discourses brought them to Christ, and while now he is in 
heaven, his work is going on here on earth. When old and disabled he died 
on a farm which he owned in Adams County, and is buried in the rear of 
our church in Hampton. The precious truths which he had preached to 
others were his solace and joy in his last hours, and now he is in the enjoy- 
ment of the bliss which is promised by the Saviour himself to those who are 
faithful unto the end. 

On the 26th of January, 1854, during his incumbency, the Pennsylvania 
Conference held its session at Shopp's Church. This was rather a remarkable 
gathering. Bishop Glossbrenner presided, and Bishop Russel assisted. Bish- 
op Henry Kumler and Rev. John C. Bright came from Ohio, and for the first 
time in the history of the denomination presented the interests of our new- 
Foreign Missionary Society. They were men of great personal magnetism, 
grand preachers, and very interesting speakers. The result was that enthusi- 
asm was elevated to the highest pitch, and the missionary interests were 
introduced in the best possible light. John C. Bright was one of our most 
agreeable and enterprising men in Ohio. I was about him a great deal in 
1857 and 1858, and think he was one of the most pleasant and pious men I 
ever knew. He, with Bishop Kumler, held forth the missionary interests in 
such a manner in our Conference that a large number of preachers and lay- 
men were induced to become life-directors and life-members. Rev. Jonathan 
Holmes presented the interests of Mount Pleasant College at this Conference. 
He had been pastor of the United Brethren Church at Mount Pleasant the 
year before. While at the East Pennsylvania Conference he was employed 
to take charge of the United Brethren Church in Harrisburg, and soon after 
entered on his duties as pastor of that congregation. The church edifice was 
a fine brick building on Front Street, near the entrance of the new bridge. 
The ground now is occupied by a palatial residence. The United Brethren 
had purchased the property from the Baptists. 

This, the last Conference at Shopp's Church, gave evidence of much 
vigor. Bishops Kumler and Russel were at their best, and some serious people 
suspected that they furnished rather more merriment and amusement than 
was needed at a religious assemblage. Bishop Kumler, in point of original 
peculiarity and talent, possessed features rarely found. A powerful man 
intellectually, physically and morally, he was able to amuse and entertain. At 
one time his auditors would laugh, and next they would weep. This Con- 
ference was spoken of for a good while after all over this part of the country. 
The lively debates on most of the subjects presented for consideration, and 
the excellent preaching, both in English and German, kept up a constant 
interest from beginning to end. But this was the last session held in Shopp's 
Church. 

During the twenty-seven years that this edifice stood, four Conferences 
were held there, being in the years 1 830, when Bishop Kumler presided ; in 



UNITED BRETRHEN CHURCH 37 

1835, when Bishop Brown presided; in 1844, when Bishop Erb presided; and 
in 1 854, when Bishop Glossbrenner presided. Here first I heard William B. 
Raber, when a young man, preach. He then already gave evidence of his 
wondrous powers as a preacher, and of those rare talents that placed him in 
the front rank as an orator both in the English and German languages. 

In this church also Rev. Z. A. Colestock often proclaimed the Word 
when a young man, in his clear and logical style, to the great edification of 
the people. Here, too, William R. Rhinehart, the pulpit orator and inimitable 
singer, charmed his hearers with the eloquence of his speech and his hymns 
of praise. Among the presiding elders who officiated in the old church I 
mention but one, the Rev. George Miller, whose words rolled forth like an 
avalanche. Of him I may say in the words of another: "What holy love 
burned in his heart and beamed from his countenance ! At the sound of his 
voice the penitential tear stole down the cheek of the transgressor, and the 
shout of praise burst from the lips of the children of God." 

Migration to the West diminished the membership considerably for some 
years. Among those who moved away I may mention, in 1 846, Jacob Fretz 
and family to Illinois; also George and Rebecca Darr. In 1850 Isaac Neidig, 
who had sold his farm, moved with his family to Iowa. In the spring of 1 85 1 
Christian Balmer and his family went to Ohio, while Jacob Nisley and his 
family went to Crawford County, Penn'a. In 1852 Henry Miller and his 
wife, beloved by the whole Church, moved to Iowa; and so the depletion 
went on, and others had to be brought in to fill up the ranks. 

At the last Conference held in Shopp's Church in January, 1854, Rev. 
William B. Wagner was appointed preacher in charge. He was a man of 
ability, possessed a large library of choice books on historical and theological 
subjects, and enjoyed reading. He was a tall, muscular man of prepossessing 
appearance. His sermons were rich in thought, strong in argument, abound- 
ing in ideas for reflection, and often of great length in the delivery. As a 
vocalist he excelled. Few men in the Church could sing as he. With a rich, 
sweet, full voice, perfectly trained, he would pour forth the grandest songs in 
the most enchanting strains. To hear him and Jacob C. Smith sing a duet at 
church or at campmeeting was an event to be remembered. 

During his incumbency the old church was taken down and the material, 
such as the stove, the pews, and what lumber could be utilized, were conveyed 
to Shiremanstown to be used in the erection of a new church building. Some 
of the members did not favor this project, and it required considerable per- 
suasion to conciliate them. Bishop Erb was the first man that proposed the 
movement. More than a year before he told me that if we hoped to succeed 
the church must be in town. I responded that it would be impossible to get 
the consent of the leading members ; to which he replied that he had already 
privately spoken to Brother John Shopp, and he was willing; so also some of 
the others who were expected to bear the chief part of the burden. And 
John Shopp, Samuel Eberly and Henry Batdorf led off, assisted by Benjamin 
Erb and by others, because they believed it to be essential to the future sue- 



38 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

cess of the congregation ; now fifty years show their judgment to have been 
correct. The work of John Shopp, Samuel Eberly and Henry Batdorf can 
hardly be over-estimated. They were always at their post of duty. 

While the new church was being built, the congregation had secured the 
use of the Bethel for preaching services, and in the winter a revival of religion 
was carried on there. It began under the preaching of Rev. William Beighel, 
of the Allegheny Conference, who came on a visit. He had a magnetic elo- 
quence when aroused in his public efforts which was remarkable, and a num- 
ber of penitents presented themselves publicly for prayer. While Rev. 
Wagner had charge, other ministers of different denominations delivered 
sermons, and quite a number professed conversion. But when I look back 
and recall the mode of operation in the commingling of dissimilar elements, 
the natural interest each denomination had in its own success in "stringing 
up the fish," and th*: singular way of displaying brotherly love, I am convinced 
that Omnipotent power wrought the conversion of souls, and must exclaim, 
"Lord, thou canst work, and no man can hinder." Nearly all of those who 
then took part have passed over, and, I think, are now in the same glorious 
heaven. 

Mr. Wagner had the pleasure of seeing his church dedicated in the sum- 
mer of 1855. He had worked faithfully, and on the other parts of his circuit 
he gave efficient service. He had considerable opposition from without be- 
cause of his aggressive method in pushing forward the interests committed 
to him. 

When the Conference convened in Baltimore, Maryland, in January, 
1856, he was elected presiding elder, and for some cause the Stationing Com- 
mittee made no appointment. So the presiding elder designated William 
Owen as preacher ; but after the lapse of a few months he ceased his minis- 
trations, and a Methodist local preacher of West Fairview, whose name I do 
not now recall, preached for the people. As the Latin gives it, "Equus sagi- 
natur in oculo domini," and by the close of the Conference year Shopp's 
Station was at rather a low condition. The membership seemed to have 
little enthusiasm, and that was not much to be wondered at. 

In January, 1857, the Rev. John Dickson came to this charge, and had 
for his assistant Rev. Samuel Deatrick. Ten preaching places had to be 
served every two weeks. The congregation at Shiremanstown had then one 
hundred and twelve members, and when he took charge, on the first Sabbath, 
at Shiremanstown, the church elected Conrad Keim and Benjamin Longe- 
necker class leaders, and William Balsley steward. These all were most 
excellent Christian men. Benjamin Longenecker was a most devoted and 
pious man, and always found at his post. He really was a very efficient 
member in the church, and served it faithfully. Everything now seemed to 
assume a new appearance, and the members felt encouraged. One of the 
most important movements was the building of a new church in Mechanics- 
burg, which became necessary to accommodate the growing congregation at 
that place. 



UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH 39 

In 1858 Rev. John Dickson had for his assistant Rev. Hiram Y. Hummel- 
baugh, and the work was cared for in the most punctilious manner. In July 
of that year, when home at close of college work, I took the junior preacher's 
place one Sabbath while he went away on a visit. On the Saturday preced- 
ing the Shiremanstown Sunday School had a picnic at Silver's Spring, and we 
invited the Presbyterian minister, resident there, the Rev. Mr. Morris, to ad- 
dress the children and friends, which he did in a most appropriate style. We 
enjoyed our dinner in the grove, and had a barrel of good sweet cider, which 
Father Batdorf had specially made of summer apples for the occasion. On 
our return home, at the pressing request of Father Batdorf, we drove up 
through the main street of Mechanicsburg, and returned by the Simpson 
road, in order to show ourselves and to let the children see the town. Our 
retinue, composed of wagons and rockaways, presented quite a formidable 
array. Of the remarks made by some of the citizens of that borough, 
especially when they saw a young man of our company sitting astride of our 
empty cider barrel on a wagon, I will not here make a record. 

At the upper end of the town I left the company that went home rejoic- 
ing, and I walked out about two miles in the direction of Stumptown to the 
residence of my cousin, Levi Eberly, who lived in the centre of two good 
farms which he owned. His house was a splendid large brick mansion of 
about sixty feet front, and a yard of large shade trees, where he had placed 
benches for the accommodation of hearers, while the minister had a place to 
stand on the large porch. That Saturday evening, after supper, I preached 
to a good-sized audience, and next morning I came with the family to the 
new church in Mechanicsburg, where I again spoke. After dinner I walked 
to Shiremanstown, and on my way met Rev. Dickson, who was on the road 
to preach in Mechanicsburg in the evening, while I was to be at Shiremans- 
town. My object in giving this account is to show you how the work was 
then carried on, and the foundation laid for what we now have. On the 
same Sabbath there was twice preaching in both Shiremanstown and Mechan- 
icsburg, but the preacher at the one place alternated with the other. You 
know, they liked variety in the preaching, and keeping the preacher in mo- 
tion was conducive to his health. 

The Conference of 1859 convened at Mechanicsburg, in the new church, 
and reappointed Rev. John Dickson, with Daniel Eberly for colleague. At 
Shiremanstown and Mechanicsburg there was twice preaching every other 
Sabbath, and at Mount Zion Church, West Fairview, Wormleysburg, The 
Marsh, Fishing Creek and Yocumtown once every two weeks. We also 
added Gorgas' School House and Shepherdstown for occasional services. 
Each one generally preached three times on Sabbath, and met the appoint- 
ments regularly. 

Early in October a revival was started at the Marsh appointment, which 
was continued for some weeks. In November the second revival began in 
the Mechanicsburg Church, which extended into the next month and proved 
quite successful. Towards the close of December another revival began at 



40 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

the Salem Church in the Fishing Creek Valley, in York County, which lasted 
till the close of the Conference year in the following January. These inter- 
esting meetings added not only members to the local churches, but also exerted 
a very great influence for good among the people in general. The year 
throughout was prosperous ; peace and harmony prevailed over the whole 
circuit, and the members felt encouraged. All of the preaching places being 
served with regularity ; and the pastoral visitation of the charge received very 
careful attention, which was equally shared by both preachers, who "put in 
full time." The kind of service rendered made possible the success of after 
years. 

The Conference of 1860 reappointed Rev. John Dickson, and Jacob F. 
Wilt assistant. Brother Wilt was a most excellent young man. He had pur- 
sued his studies at Otterbein University, and was a very graceful and pleasant 
speaker. But in a few years he fell a victim to consumption, and his useful 
life was brought to a termination. During this year the Mount Olivet Church, 
a mile and a quarter below New Cumberland, was built and dedicated to the 
service of God. This was the outgrowth of the revival at Marsh School 
House. 

The four years during which Rev. John Dickson had charge of Shopp's 
Station he had three churches built. At Mechanicsburg and Mount Zion, 
two in one year, 1858, and Mount Olivet in York County in 1860 — four 
years of real prosperity and substantial growth. He combined all the ele- 
ments of a good pulpit speaker with those of an untiring pastor. His undi- 
vided attention was given to this one work. He visited many families, being 
a welcome guest wherever he called, whether in the houses of the poor or in 
the residences of the rich. No one in the family ever heard from his lips a 
vulgar or trifling expression. There was nothing morose or austere in his 
bearing. While cheerful and pleasant, he always maintained a Christian 
dignity and gentlemanly refinement in society. In the pulpit, as you all 
know, he was able. He possessed a power peculiar to himself. While his 
preaching met the wants and enjoyment of the most logical and cultured, it 
also gave edification and comfort to the most humble hearer. The four years 
of his ministry at Shopp's Station remain a monument to his honor. From 
1869 to 1893, a term of twenty-four years, he served as bishop in the Church, 
and did splendid service, and now at the age of four-score and four years, 
with good mental faculties when we would expect him to be leaning on his 
staff waiting for the chariots of Israel, he is still able to proclaim the truths of 
salvation. 

With his pastorate in 1 860 I close this prelection. The territory which 
the circuit then embraced has now six different charges with as many pastors, 
showing the real and solid growth of these years. I can recall but three 
ministers now living that delivered sermons in Shopp's Church, east of Shire- 
manstown. They are Bishop Dickson, Rev. Dr. Colestock and myself. But I 
preached only once in the old building: that was in February, 1854, several 
months before its demolition. It has been my aim in these addresses to give 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 41 

in consecutive order and in succinct form a definite view of the workers and 
their work on this charge during six decades; and now the period from 1861 
to the present may be the field for another's investigation and presentation. 
To him we give the opportunity to speak of the stirring scenes that were 
enacted in the streets of Shiremanstown, when citizens had arms stored in 
this building, and when, on the last Sabbath of June, 1863, the mounted 
cavalry of the Confederate army dashed forward, and the ringing of the bell 
of this church by a Union sentry, who had used the belfry as a watch-tower, 
very nearly caused trouble. 

But these days of agitation have passed, the wounds inflicted are healing 
over ; a glorious peace has come, and now holds together a united land in 
the bonds of civil and gospel liberty. 

There are still some with us who were present when this church was 
first opened for divine service nearly half a century ago ; but that number 
has become small. The majority have crossed over, and are now in the 
Church Triumphant — secure from all pain and sorrow. "Jerusalem which is 
above is free, which is the mother of us all." Taking the Church as a whole, 
though it is part on earth, yet the greater part of its members are in heaven. 
Those on earth are toiling hard ; those above are at rest. Here they are 
struggling in the contest ; there they enjoy the victory. The grace which 
God gives to his people leads to glory. His followers on earth are heirs, 
though not yet in possession. The love which has glorified those who are 
now in the Jerusalem above is the same love which God sheds abroad in the 
hearts of the faithful who in this world are striving for the mastery. "Be thou 
faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" is the positive assur- 
ance of the Omnipotent Jehovah to those striving to possess the Kingdom. 
Of the pious and faithful people who worshipped in this sanctuary during 
those years, and who have died in the faith, we can say: 

"They are gone to the grave ! but their work shall not perish, 
That work which the spirit of wisdom hath blest; 
His strength shall sustain it, his comforts shall cherish, 
And make it to prosper, though they are at rest." 



THE ILLUSTRATIONS 




N the lectures the following homes are mentioned : First, Home of 
John Shopp, Sr., located about one mile northeast of Shiremans- 
town, on a large, rich farm. Visited by Newcomer March 24, 1 800. 
Second, Home of Christian Erb, west side of Susquehanna, di- 
rectly opposite the State buildings at Harrisburg. May be seen 
from the cars, in crossing the bridge. 

Third, Home of Elizabeth Hershey Erb, widow of Christian Erb, located 
in Wormleysburg. 

Fourth, Home of Daniel Sherban, situate on the turnpike leading from 
Harrisburg to Chambersburg, one mile north of Shiremanstown, on a fertile 
farm at present owned by Simon Eberly. 

Fifth, Home of Samuel Eberly, Sr., located half a mile north of Shire- 
manstown, on a farm of 205 acres of limestone land near the Peace Church. 
This farm adjoined the farm of Shopp on the east, and that of Sherban on the 
north. 

Sixth, Friedens Kirch, or Peace Church, is located about a third of a mile 
north of Shiremanstown, fronting on the Trindle road, now a Telford State 
road. Here the Manor Line road crosses the former, and this is the road 
seen in the picture. Toward the close of the eighteenth century the members 
of that denomination became strong and influential, and according to Rupp's 
"History of Cumberland County," a German Reformed congregation was 
organized by the Rev. Anthony Hautz. "On the 26th of May, 1 797, the con- 
gregation obtained deeds for land on which, to build. In I 798 the church 
was erected under the superintendence of the following building committee, 
viz. : Friedrich Lang, Jonas Rupp, Leonard Swartz and the Rev. Anthony 
Hautz." According to Newcomer, the cornerstone was laid June 12, 1798, 
when he was present, and "Geeting was requested to deliver the first dis- 
course, and preached with uncommon power from Isaiah 28 : 16. The Rev. 
Mr. Hautz concluded the ceremony." Again, a sacramental meeting com- 
menced November 9, 1 799, at the Church of Peace, when he, and Draksel, 
Boehm and Geeting were the guests of John Jonas Rupp. On Sabbath, No- 
vember 1 0, Geeting delivered the first discourse ; Neidig followed him. Boehm 
and Geeting distributed the bread and wine. 

Rev. George Adam Geeting at this date was still a minister in the Ger- 
man Reformed Church, and continued so till 1 804. 

"In the year 1820 Rev. John Winebrenner settled in Harrisburg, Penn'a, 
as a minister of the German Reformed Church, and took charge of four con- 
gregations, one in town and three in the country." One of these country 

42 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



43 



appointments was Peace Church. A conflict arose with regard to revivals of 
religion. The account of the trouble is given in Rupp's "History of Denomi- 
nations." Rev. Winebrenner, on page 171, further states : "The most violent 
opposition and persecution arose from that quarter, aided by not a few of the 
ministers of their Synod themselves. This state of things lasted for the space 
of about five years, and then resulted in a separation from the German Re- 
formed Church in 1825." 

When Winebrenner left he took with him quite a number of the good 
members of that congregation, persons who, for financial ability and honor, 
stood high in the community, and thereby inflicted a lasting injury on that 
congregation. 





44 




45 




46 




47 




43 




49 



NOTES ON LECTURES 




HE object of adding these notes is, in the first place, to give 
a more comprehensive view of the preaching places men- 
tioned in the lectures. The appointments, ten in number, 
which constituted the Shopps charge at the close of 1 860, 
have in half a century branched out into six stations and 
two circuits. And in the second place to give some addi- 
tional information with regard to the devoted and earnest men who labored 
so zealously in the founding and establishing of our Zion in this part of the 
country. They certainly are worthy of honorable mention. 

In the third place, it seems proper to preserve a record of the laity, of 
those faithful men and pious women who years ago were willing to enroll 
their names in the church and enlist in the cause of the Master. It is to be 
hoped that it will be pleasing, to some at least, to see the names of their 
ancestors recorded among the people of God. The bonds of Christian fel- 
lowship are strong and when properly reinforced by divine grace are indis- 
soluble. 

Wormleysburg, situated on the west bank of the river, opposite Harris- 
burg, was laid out by John Wormley in the autumn of 1815. The bridge 
which first spanned the Susquehanna at this place, built by Theodore Burr, 
was opened for travel October 16, 1816. Hence, when Christian Erb moved 
on his farm in the year 1810, there was neither town nor bridge. The river 
had to be crossed by a ferry. The State Capital was moved from Lancaster 
to Harrisburg in 1812, which added new interest to this part of the common- 
wealth. The house in which Mr. Erb resided, and in which religious services 
were conducted, is still, in 1910, standing and in use. It is a commodious 
building. The trolley line passes a short distance in front. The station, 
called "Kimmels," is on the farm, midway between West Fairview and Worm- 
leysburg. In that house Samuel Eberly and Catharine Erb were married in 
1816. 

Some time after the death of Christian Erb, in 1 820, his widow moved to 
Wormleysburg. The house she occupied and in which she maintained regu- 

50 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 51 

lar preaching, is also standing at this date. It is on the front street, near the 
new bridge. After the demise of Mrs. Erb, during Kesler's pastorate, preach- 
ing services were held in different buildings in the town by the ministers of 
Shopp's Station. Rev. William B. Wagner, in 1854-5, used a small brick 
church in the town ; and when I was the "colleague" of Rev. J. Dickson in 
1859, we had regular services there, and later in a plain, good-sized school- 
house. The work was kept up, and not allowed to die out. 

West Fairview was founded by Abraham Neidig in 1815. It is situated 
at the confluence of the Conodoguinet Creek and the Susquehanna River. 
For some years this was called Neidigstown. Two hundred years ago an 
Indian village occupied this ground and, according to "Watson's Annals," from 
1 700 to 1 720 the wigwams of the Delawares, Susquehannas and roving 
Shawnees, branches of the Huron-Iroquois family, were here situated. 

A farm adjoining the town was sold by Jacob Neidig in the year 1838 to 
Frederick May, who moved thereon in March, 1 839. Mr. May was born in 
Lancaster County, Penn'a, one mile east of Elizabethtown, August 9, 1 799. 
He was a most excellent Christian gentleman and a member of the United 
Brethren Church. As soon as he became settled in his new home he estab- 
lished preaching in his house, and also in the school-house of the town. 
Here Rev. John Fohl, when pastor on Shopp's Station, organized a United 
Brethren class in the year 1 843 ; and proceeded to build a church, which was 
used for many years, until the increased membership rendered a new and 
much larger church necessary. 

Frederick May was a devout and very studious man, a close and careful 
reader of the Bible. In the year 1 835 he was admitted as a member of the 
Pennsylvania Annual Conference, and was ordained in 1 838. He died 
April 9, 1857, and is buried in the cemetery at Enola. His son, Daniel G. 
May, was an active and very useful member of this congregation for many 
years. From him I received the information with regard to the time of his 
father's early work in this town. I was personally acquainted with Father 
May; heard him preach frequently at Shopp's Church, and he often visited 
at my father's home. We all esteemed him highly. 

The Mount Zion Church, located on the State Road, four miles west of 
Fairview and about seven miles north of Shiremanstown, was one of the 
appointments on Shopp's Station. Rev. John Fohl preached in the house of 
Daniel Bretz and wife, and organized a class. After a while a few families 
moved from Shopp's Church over to a place called by Fohl the "North Moun- 
tain," among whom were George Bowers and wife, 1845, and Daniel Kime 
and wife, 1 849. During Rev. Wagner's pastorate services were held in a 
small frame church on a back road near the mountain, which, I believe, was 
wrecked in a wind-storm. For a while there was preaching in a school-house 
a mile or two further up the State Road, near the residence of Brother SchalL 
Then the Mount Zion Church was built. A good class of people attended 



52 LANDMARK HISTORYOFTHE 

services, and good members belonged to this church ; among them I recall 
Father Quigley and wife, whose sons, Rev. J. X. Quigley and Rev. William 
Quigley, were here converted and became useful ministers in the denomina- 
tion. Also Shumberger's family and Samuel Holtz, who resided at Holtz's 
Mill, on a stream near where it flows in the Conodoguinet. At his house 
preparation was made when there was to be baptism by immersion in the 
creek. He was a student at the Mount Pleasant College about 1856, when 
he became acquainted with a most estimable lady of that town, whom he 
afterwards married and brought to his home here. 

The Mechanicsburg United Brethren Church was built during the first 
year's pastorate of Rev. John Dickson. For some years previously the United 
Brethren ministers on Shopp's Station held services in the Old Union Church 
on Main Street, and I recollect a service held there on Sabbath, when Rev. 
William Miller preached a powerful sermon. This, I think, was during Kes- 
ler's pastorate. When Rev. William Wagner was the preacher, a week even- 
ing meeting was held in the "Old Union," when a number of the Shiremans- 
town members attended. They went on Father Batdorf's wagon, used 
specially for such occasions. Then there was preaching, communion and 
feet-washing. I was no church member at the time, but driver of the team. 
My father and Brother Batdorf sat immediately in my rear, and I could hear 
their conversation, even amid the talking of the rest, that was going on. I 
had observed during the meeting, when the invitation was given to come out 
to the feet-washing, that Batdorf was the first out and on the end of the bench 
where the ceremony was to begin, and in this conversation on the wagon, 
carried on in German, he told my father that at feet-washing he always went 
out first, for then the water is still pure, and some people have unhealthy 
feet. My father responded, that is a good plan ; had not thought of that 
before. 

Here I may add that Brother Batdorf, who resided on a farm near Shire- 
manstown, kept a splendid wagon, constructed especially to convey the 
brethren and sisters to campmeetings and revivals. His horses were the best 
that could be obtained. This he kept up to the time of his death. No better 
man was to be found in that part of the country. 

At this time Father Jacob Coover was the chief member of the United 
Brethren Church in that town. He was a splendid man physically, well pro- 
portioned, pleasing address, with pleasant open countenance, and a fluent 
speaker. He was regarded as one of the most conscientious, pious and hon- 
orable men in the county. He is the man that had our ministers come to 
Mechanicsburg and open up the work there. Of him I have the most pleas- 
ant recollections. The words of encouragement which he gave me in the 
first year of my ministry I can never forget. His presence in church was an 
inspiration to the minister, and the members felt good to see him. Such a 
man gives character to church work, especially at its inception. His life and 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 55 

work stand as "a monument of praise to God." During the year 1 859 we 
had a revival meeting in this town, which began on the 1 8th of November, at 
which a goodly number of people were converted. Brother Colestock, who 
resided in the town, preached several times. Rev. Jonathan Weaver, who at 
that time was representing Otterbein University, came to this revival on 
Friday, the 25th of November, and preached that evening, also Saturday 
evening, twice on the Sabbath, and Monday evening, the 28th. His powerful 
sermons made a great impression. People came to the church to hear him. 
The meeting was continued, and quite a number of excellent people 
united with the church. From my diary I have the record : "Wednesday, De- 
cember 2 1 , preached in Mechanicsburg ; two penitents — converted. Closed 
the meeting, which has been continued over a month." 

Shiremanstown Church of the United Brethren in Christ was started in 
1854; finished and dedicated in 1855. When Shopp's Church was erected 
in 1827 the town was composed of a dozen buildings. The Cumberland 
Valley Railroad was not built till ten years later. But had the sentiments 
prevailed then as they do now, the church would have been erected in the 
new town. Prof. I. Daniel Rupp, the author of the histories of some twenty- 
eight Counties of Pennsylvania, and who did more than any other man of 
the State in preserving and collating early historical facts, was born on a farm 
which now borders on the borough limits. In his "History of Cumberland 
County" he writes of this town : "The first house erected here was built by 
Daniel Sherbahn, executor of George Schebely, for the widow of the deceased, 
in the summer of 1813. When the first house was built, all on the south side 
of the road was one dense forest. In 1814 John Davis erected the house now 
occupied by Dr. Mateer. Both these are on the north side of the road. A 
few years after, Henry Zearing erected one on the south side of the road, 
now owned by George Rupp, Jr., and occupied as a public house. Shortly 
afterwards Martin Zearing erected a brick house north of the road. George 
Sipe, Isaac Goshert and Christian Shroll each erected a house soon after the 
brick one had been built. About the years 1827 and 1828 several more by 
Jacob Rupp and others, when it was called Shiremanstown, after Daniel 
Shireman, deceased, who held considerable property here at the time." 

About 1849 Dr. Mateer sold his house, built by John Davis in 1814, to 
Bishop Erb, with the adjacent lots of ground. Bishop Erb made this his 
residence, with the exception of about five years, when he resided in York 
till the time of his death in 1 883. On the adjoining lots of this property now 
stand the parsonage and ^hurch of the United Brethren in Christ. He was 
the prime mover in re-location, which encountered considerable opposition. 
The church was dedicated to divine service in the summer of 1855, I think in 
July. Rev. William Wagner was the pastor in charge. Rev. John Dickson, 
then presiding elder, preached the dedicatory sermon. A large congregation 
was present, and a "money effort" was made to raise "what was back." This 
met with very ordinary success. The plea for not responding more freely 



54 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

was that some of the members were able to pay for the church themselves, 
which I suppose was true. At any rate, a few of them did pay the balance in 
a short time, and felt none the worse for it. 

When the stone church half a mile below the town was demolished the 
nice limestone in the walls were used in the construction of the basement in 
the new edifice ; all the old lumber that could be utilized was worked in. 
The pews of the old church had high backs. They had been made by James 
Neiman, who was a carpenter and later a successful preacher. About six 
inches of these tops were taken off for strips on new seats in the basement. 
The pews in the main audience room were painted blue, and the contractor 
thought the paint was perfectly hard and set. But there happened to come a 
few days of sultry weather, and the humidity moistened the paint to such a 
degree as to cause the clothing of the occupants to adhere to the benches. 
You can readily imagine what effect this had on the feelings of persons who 
carried the marks on their clothing to their homes. Unevangelical expressions 
of displeasure were uttered by some. Even the pews gave evidence that they 
had been occupied, for some lady left a piece of light gauze fabric sticking 
fast. One old brother facetiously remarked that if an enterprising agent for 
paint-erasing soap had been stationed outside, his sales to the departing 
congregation would have amounted to more than the collection raised inside. 
But that church edifice has served its purpose for more than half a century ; 
though nearly all of the worshippers of that day have passed over. 

The Gorgas School House, about two miles east of Shiremanstown, had 
a basement adapted to public gatherings, and was served with preaching on 
Saturday evenings, with an occasional Sabbath service. This was carried 
with Shiremanstown. 

Shepherdstown Union Church, two miles south of Mechanicsburg, was 
supplied alternately with Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon preaching. 
The members and people at these places appreciated the services. 

Yocumtown, in York County, two miles from the Fishing Creek Church, 
was regularly served. A very genteel and intelligent class of people repre- 
sented this place. The Yocums, Fortenbaughs, Keisters, and others. 
Services were held in rather a good-sized building or hall which, I think, at 
one time had been used for school purposes. 

The "Marsh Church" was a partially deserted building erected soon after 
the Revolutionary War, and intended to serve the double object of a school 
house and a union meeting house. It answered a good purpose for the hold- 
ing of funeral services when there were burials in the adjacent graveyard. 
The founders had stipulated that "no services were to be held during candle- 
light." But they had their day, and others entered the stage of action with 
different ideas, and oil gave light. This building accommodated a good-sized 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 55 

congregation. The benches were without "backs," and often standing room 
was at a premium. On special occasions as many stood outside as were 
inside the house. Located in a fertile agricultural part of York County, it was 
one of the three appointments in that county, served regularly every two 
weeks, and was little over a mile distant from New Cumberland. 

By referring to my diary for 1859, I find that Rev. J. Dickson preached 
and held communion services here on Sabbath, October 2d, and I preached 
at Mount Zion, Wormleysburg and West Fairview. "On Monday morning, 
October 3, I went to the 'Marsh,' where I met Brother Dickson. I preached 
in the evening at 'candle light' from Acts 24 : 24-25, and he exhorted; had 
five mourners." This was the start of a good work. October 1 6th I preached 
at the "Marsh" from Romans 6 : 16, 17; received fourteen into church fel- 
lowship. The pastor-in-charge had received some previously, and we took 
others later. 

Thursday, November 3d, was the day set apart to baptize by immersion. 
For this service we engaged Bishop Erb, a man of large experience in this 
mode of baptism, having, as administrator, often officiated, was well prepared 
for the service. At that time he resided in Shiremanstown. We met in the 
old edifice in the morning, where Erb preached in German and Dickson in 
English. We then drove to the residence of J. F. Hursh, a farmer, who re- 
sided in a fine large limestone mansion near the Yellow Breeches Creek. It 
was an ideal place for the ceremony, and there Bishop Erb baptized twelve 
candidates. The day was very pleasant, and all seemed to appreciate the 
solemnity of the occasion. 

Among the candidates there was a large woman from the mountain, of 
immense muscular power. It was said that she could, with ease, set a barrel 
of cider in a wagon, and for years no one who knew her desired to incur her 
ill-will At the meeting she was soundly converted, and took a "big shout," 
in which she gave evidence of her physical strength. We told Bishop Erb, 
who was a very strong, active man, that if she should get happy he would 
have a big proposition on hand. But he was equal to the occasion. When 
she arose out of the water and was about ready to start up, I heard the Bishop 
say to her nicely, in rather a low tone : "Sister, hold up till you get out of the 
stream." She obeyed, but made it lively for those who received her at the 
margin. 

Of this meeting my diary gives the closing record : Thursday, November 
10, "Preached at the Marsh, Luke 7 : 48-50. All of our mourners got religion. 
Had a grand time till twelve o'clock, midnight. Closed the meeting for good, 
having lasted for five and a half weeks." 

The result of this revival was the firm establishment of the United Breth- 
ren Church in that part of the country, and led to the building of a new 
church, and finally the New Cumberland Church. 

Rev. John Dickson had for his colleague the next year J. F. Wilt. The 
plans of the previous year were carried into execution, and a substantial brick 
church was erected on land which Brother Jacob Carver gave us for that 



56 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

purpose. The new building, erected in 1 860, was dedicated the same year 
by Bishop Glossbrenner and called the Mount Olivet Church. The pastor, 
with Abraham B. Hursh and Francis Hollar, constituted the building com- 
mittee. 

Salem Church, Fishing Creek Valley, in York County, also was part of 
Shopp's Station. Prof. George R. Prowell, Curator and Librarian of the 
Historical Society of York County, a native of that place, and in his youth an 
attendant at church services, in his "History of York County," in volume 1 > 
page 968, writes: "In 1843 Rev. John Fohl, a clergyman of the United Breth- 
ren Church, was invited to the Fishing Creek Valley by David Fisher. He 
was pastor of a church at Shiremanstown, in the lower end of Cumberland 
County. After he had conducted a revival, a congregation was organized 
and Salem Church was built. Since the erection of this church it has been 
the centre of religious interest to the entire community. This church lies in 
the centre of the Fishing Creek Valley. This was the first building erected 
as a house for religious worship within the limits of Fairview Township. At 
a meeting of the Quarterly Conference, held in this valley April 22, 1 844, 
John S. Prowell, Henry B. Kauffman and Jacob Miller were appointed trus- 
tees. Mr. Prowell served in that capacity for a period of forty-five years, 
until his death." David Fisher also served as trustee until his demise. Prow- 
ell and Fisher were close friends to each other, always present when duty 
required, 

The first visit that I made to this church and valley was in the month of 
February, 1857. Rev. John Dickson, who had been appointed to the charge, 
was kept home by sickness in his family, and Rev. Daniel A. Tawney, a 
fellow student at Mount Pleasant College, who was visiting me at my parents* 
home in Shiremanstown, and I were called on to meet the appointments. 
With Bishop Erb's team we set out on Saturday afternoon and went to New 
Cumberland, and to the home of Brother Kauffman, a good Christian gentle- 
man who, on account of our youthful appearance, looked on us with some 
misgivings, as he told me some years later. After supper we went to an old 
school-house, and Tawney preached a splendid sermon. Though young, he 
had preached three years on the Manchester (Md.) and Perry circuits, in the 
Pennsylvania Conference, before he went to college. He was an exceedingly 
pleasant conversationalist, and he became quite a favorite with Mr. and Mrs. 
Kauffman. 

On Sabbath morning we were at the "Marsh." There I preached. Took 
dinner at the elder Drayers. Mother Drayer told us that when we came into 
the church she had no idea that we boys were preachers. But she was 
pleased. (Years after I was her pastor twice.) After dinner we drove over 
the mountain to Fishing Creek Valley, and put up at the spacious residence 
of Brother David Fisher. We were received with great cordiality, and found 
the place first class in every respect. The "old folks," girls and boys were 
very friendly. That evening Brother Tawney preached, and the people were 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 57 

delighted. On Monday morning we set out for home, and when we arrived 
at Shiremanstown felt glad we had learned to know some of the good people 
on that part of the charge. 

Here I may add that Rev. D. A. Tawney graduated at Otterbein Univer- 
sity, Ohio, in the class of 1 860, and while recently preparations were being 
made to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of his class graduation next June, 
the sad intelligence came that he had died on the 14th of December, 1909, 
at St. Paul, Minn., after a long and successful pastorate. He was the uncle of 
Hon. James Tawney, now a member of Congress, and was a native of Adams 
County, Penn'a. 

On Friday, December 9, 1859, while Brother Dickson and I were en- 
gaged in pastoral visitation, during the revival season at Mechanicsburg, a 
messenger called on me at the house of Father Jacob Coover to ask me to 
preach a funeral sermon next day in the Fishing Creek. I consented, went 
to my home in Shiremanstown, had the blacksmith to sharpen shoes on my 
horse, and that evening made the record in my diary : "This is the first time 
in three weeks that I sleep in my home." Started early next morning, as I 
had twelve miles to go. Arrived at the house in good time, and officiated 
at the funeral of Miss Garretson, who died on the 8th inst. aged 1 9 years, 9 
months and 29 days. Text, Ecclesiastes 9:5, "For the living know that they 
shall die." This was the first time that I had learned to know any of this 
household. The funeral was largely attended, and a deep feeling prevailed 
because of the early death of a young lady who was highly esteemed by the 
entire community. 

The Garretson family was among the first settlers of the Fishing Creek 
and Redland Valleys ; being in that great Quaker migration which came at 
an early date from Chester County, and the town of Newberry was laid out 
by an ancestor. Elijah Garretson, the father of this family, was an intelligent 
and sociable gentleman, brought up in the faith of the Quakers, and had 
been an efficient county official for years. The mother came from an old 
and highly respected family in that valley. I thus became acquainted with 
a family that afterward I learned to esteem very highly. Everybody seemed 
to sympathize with them in their bereavement. 

After the funeral went to Yocumtown, where I preached that evening. 
Next day, Sabbath, preached at the Marsh in the morning, and in the evening 
at Fishing Creek Church. On Monday returned home ; went to Mechanics- 
burg, where I preached again at our revival services that evening. 

On Sunday, December 25th, Rev. Dickson had communion services in 
Fishing Creek Church, and in the evening started revival services. That day 
I met my appointments at Mount Zion, Fairview and Wormleysburg. My 
diary makes the following record : "Monday, December 26, went direct 
to Fishing Creek to join Brother Dickson. Tonight I preached from Acts 1 7 : 



58 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

30, 'And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth 
all men everywhere to repent.' " 

Four mourners: Daniel Rutter, Elijah Garretson, Miss Garretson and 
Miss Fisher. This caused great excitement in that neighborhood because of 
the age and standing of the first two. Elijah Garretson was known over the 
country; was Prothonotary of York County for three years (1851-52-53), and 
had held other offices of trust. Daniel Rutter was an enterprising farmer and 
a York County Representative in the State Legislature of 1855-6. He had 
professed to be a Universalist, dabbled some in spiritualism, was fond of 
public controversies, and seemed to have ideas peculiarly his own. He was 
about the last man in the valley whom you would expect to come out to a 
mourners bench. He was converted, and at once took a very active part in 
the meeting, and joined church. Quarterly Conference afterwards gave him 
license to preach, and he employed his talents to a good purpose till the 
Master called him home to receive his reward. 

This meeting continued till January 1 6, 1 860, when we closed to go to 
Conference. 

Rev. Wm, S. H. Keys, of the Allegheny Conference, made a visit to Shire- 
manstown on Friday, February 4, 1859. He was a great pulpit orator, a most 
remarkable man. He began to preach when a mere boy, and astonished 
every one who heard him by his marvellous gifts. He was a "born preacher." 
Tall, slim, with high forehead, and rather muscular, he attracted attention by 
his noble bearing. While he was the pastor of the Mount Pleasant United 
Brethren Church in Westmoreland County, I was received into membership 
in December, 1852. As I esteemed him very highly, his visit was much 
appreciated. 

Saturday, the 5th, we spent together in my study. He was preparing a 
lecture, and I was working on my sermon. That day I received instructions 
from him in the preparation of sermons which gave direction to all my sub- 
sequent work in the public ministry. My diary record is : "February 6, Sun- 
day: Rev. Brother Keys and I went to the Marsh, where he preached from 
Rev. 21: 2,3. Drove, after services, directly to Brother Fisher's for dinner. 
He preached in the Fishing Creek Church in the afternoon. His subject, 
'Salvation.' Evening he preached at Yocumtown on the 'Resurrection.' 
Stayed over night with Brother Yocum and family. The people who heard 
his sermons that day were perfectly delighted. His discourses were lengthy, 
but the hearers were so charmed and absorbed that they did not measure 
the time." 

He is the man to whom Bishop Edwards refers in his diary, January 1 7, 
1 862 : "Tonight Brother K. preached from redeeming the time. A good, very 
good sermon. What good that man might do," etc. See "Life of Bishop 
Edwards," page 210. I heard Brother Keys preach that sermon. It was in 
the old church in West Fairview, and was good. But I heard Dr. Keys 



UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH 59 

preach much more powerful sermons. I regard him as one of the best, if not 
the best, pulpit orators I ever listened to. 

Rev. Z. A. Colestock rendered occasional assistance at Mechanicsburg 
when at home. He was an excellent preacher, earnest, clear and logical. 
The people loved to hear him speak. He did much to build up the United 
Brethren Church in the Cumberland Valley. He was born in Littlestown, 
Penn'a, March 25th, 1824. During the year 1 829, when a mere child, he 
was converted at a "cottage prayer-meeting." Rev. William Brown, after- 
wards Bishop, was preacher on the Littlestown charge, and while conducting 
revival services in the United Brethren Church at night, held these prayer- 
meetings in houses during day-time. 

The church in which William Brown preached was built by Philip Bishop 
on his own land in 1822, and dedicated by Bishop Newcomer on the 12th of 
October, 1823. On the 28th of January, 1826, he deeded this property to 
trustees in trust for the use of the United Brethren in Christ as a place of 
worship for all time, if they use it. This house was erected by Dr. Colestock's 
father as contractor. Rev. William Brown was greatly loved by the people. 
At that time no one thought of receiving a little boy into church fellowship ; 
and as his parents afterwards moved to the State of Ohio, when he was 
fifteen years of age he united with the church there. 

When a young man he entered the Gospel ministry in Ohio, where he 
then resided. In 1846 he visited his native State and became assistant pastor 
to Rev. Jacob C. Smith on the Littlestown circuit in April, and remained with 
him for about ten months till Conference. During that time a great revival 
was held in the Littlestown Church, in which William B. Raber, who then 
was conducting the Littlestown Academy, was converted, and joined the 
church. Soon after Raber received Quarterly Conference license to preach 
at Miller's School House. At the Annual Conference, held at Hershey's 
Church, below Carlisle, in 1847, Colestock and Dickson were admitted as 
members. This information I received from Dr. Colestock September 9, 
1 909, when he visited me in Hanover, at my home. He again visited me 
October 2d, and on Sabbath, the 3d, we went to Littlestown ; in the after- 
noon at two o'clock he preached a sermon of a full hour to a large and ap- 
preciative audience in the United Brethren Church. Many of his old friends 
and relatives were present, and enjoyed his services. 

Rev. William B. Raber exchanged his profession as teacher in the Acad- 
emy for that of preacher on the circuit. He was a man of wonderful preach- 
ing ability. Tall and straight, he wore his hair long, and moved about with 
grace and great ease. Gifted by nature to frame his thoughts in elegant 
diction, he could hold his congregations in rapture. It mattered not whether 
in English or German, he possessed the same fluency ; his cogent arguments 
were interspersed with sallies of wit, and he was able to keep up the atten- 
tion. At the campmeetings of those days he was in constant demand. There 
was a general desire to hear Raber. 



60 LANDMARK HISTORY OFT HE 

Near the end of the Conference year, when he was pastor of the First 
Church at York, an attack of malignant erysipelas proved fatal to this emi- 
nent servant of God. His death, February 1 1, 1875, was a heavy loss to the 
Pennsylvania Conference. 

Christian S. Crider is one of the preachers who visited Shopp's Church, 
and occasionally preached there. His sister, Louisa Crider, and John Shopp 
were married on the 1 6th of March, 1 843. Their son, John Henry Shopp, Esq., 
owns the old homestead and resides there in the summer months, but has 
his residence in Harrisburg, where he is an attorney-at-law. In answer to a 
letter which I wrote to him he responds : "Rev. Christian S. Crider was my 
mothers brother, the youngest, I think, a son of Rev. John Crider, residing 
about four or five miles north or northwest of Chambersburg, Penn'a." With 
the letter, from which I havo taken the above, he enclosed one from Christian 
S. Crider to John Shopp, dated Chambersburg, Penn'a, March 7, 1843, thank- 
ing him for the kind invitation to be present at the prospective wedding* 
March 1 6, with regrets that his duties precluded his attendance. He states 
further : "This day I thought of starting to my circuit, but while writing this 
letter intelligence arrived that I should, if possible, attend to a funeral, which 
will detain me two days longer." 

"York circuit is my Conference appointment, and on Friday next is my 
first ; and on its account can stay no longer at home ; but thank you for the 
invitation, through Louisa, to your wedding." 

He was received into the Pennsylvania Conference at a session in 
"Shopp's Meeting House," in the month of March, 1835. He is marked 
present at the sessions of 1837, 1839, 1841, and each succeeding year up to 
and including 1 846, after which his name appears as a member of the East 
Pennsylvania Conference. He was ordained at the Conference in session in 
Light's Meeting House in the month of March, 1839. In the "History of 
York County" it is stated that, "In 1 840 the Mission Society, in connection 
with the Otterbein Church at Baltimore, established a mission in York, and 
sent Rev. Christian S. Crider to begin the work." 

The Conference minutes show that in 1 84 1 he was appointed to the 
York mission ; and in 1 842 was reappointed to the same field. At the ses- 
sion of 1843 he was assigned to the York circuit, as seen from his letter. 
The Conference minutes state that in 1 844 he was reappointed to the York 
circuit. In the session of 1 845 he was sent to the Lebanon station, and in 
1 846 was reappointed. This would bring his pastorate at Lebanon up to 
1847. Whether he was there longer the minutes of the East Pennsylvania 
Conference will show. From Lebanon he was appointed to Myerstown, in 
the same county, where he closed his useful life. 

Few ministers leave such rich and blessed records as this faithful ser- 
vant. At York a church was purchased ; at Lebanon a magnificent house for 
the Lord was erected under his superintendency, and at Myerstown a large 
brick church arose as the result of his untirable energy. Wherever he went, 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 61 

God's blessing accompanied and Zion prospered. Several years ago Rev. 
I. Mover Hershey, then pastor of the United Brethren Church at Myerstown, 
transcribed and sent me the inscription which marks the gravestone of this 
noble servant, buried in the cemetery there : 

SACRED TO THE MEMORY 
OF 

REV'P C S. CRIDER 

Born Feb. 1, 1811 
Died March 7, 1850 

Aged 

39 years, 1 mo. 6 days. 

In 1 835 he entered the ministry of the Church of the 
United Brethren in Christ, during which time remained 
in the performance of his arduous duties, which de- 
volved on him for years. Faithful as a minister to his 
end, saying with the Apostle, "I have fought a good 
fight, I have finished my course." 

Simon Dresbach was one of the old and highly esteemed ministers who 
usually attended the Sabbath morning services in the United Brethren Church 
at Shiremanstown when I was junior pastor there in 1859-60. To the enjoy- 
ment of the congregation he usually added an "exhortation," and made the 
closing prayer. He possessed a very logical mind, and was able to carry 
forward an argument with remarkable precision. He preached well, both in 
the German and English languages. When young his father migrated from 
Pennsylvania to Pickaway County, Ohio. Many of his relatives reside there 
yet. At an early age he entered the ministry in that State, but after several 
years came to Pennsylvania and entered the ministerial ranks, and as early 
as 1825 Newcomer makes mention of him in services held together at Hagers- 
town, where he seems to have been appointed to preach on the circuit at 
that time, for in 1 826 it is recorded, August 1 3, Dreisbach preached and 
Newcomer exhorted. Bishop Newcomer makes the following record: "1829, 
February 7th, lodged with John Shopp. Sunday, 8th, preached in new meet- 
ing house ; the Lord was with us, and blessed the word spoken. Brother 
Dreisbach preached at night ; I exhorted after him. 9th, I visited several 
families and stayed for the night with Bowman. Next day at Harrisburg vis- 
ited Winebrenner." 

Rev. Dresbach married a daughter of Mr. Bowman, who was an early 
supporter of Rev. John Winebrenner. 

Rev. Dresbach owned a farm of one hundred acres at Oysters Point, 
three miles west of Harrisburg, which now is very valuable. He lived on it 
for some years, then built a house in White Hall, near by. Soon after the 



62 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

war he sold his properties in Pennsylvania and moved to the State of Illinois, 
and resided at Mount Carroll, where he ended his useful life. In the General 
Conference, held in Fairfield County, Ohio, May 15, 1829, he was one of the 
eight delegates to represent the old Hagerstown Conference, the names be- 
ing : William Brown, Henry Burtner, Jacob Erb, John Hendricks, Thomas 
Miller, John Zahn, Simon Dresbach, Ezekiel Boring. 

It is my opinion that he was the English preacher on the circuit, which 
embraced the new Shopp's Church during the years from 1827 to 1831. 

Bishop Jacob Erb was born two miles southeast of Manheim, Lancaster 
County, Penn'a, on the 25 th of May, 1804, and died at Shiremanstown, Cum- 
berland County, Penn'a, April 29, 1 883, hence at the time of his death had 
attained to the age of seventy-eight years, eleven months and four days. His 
father, Christian Erb, was born in Lancaster County in 1 758. His maternal 
grandfather was Abraham Hershey, who migrated from Switzerland to Amer- 
ica in 1 759. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Hershey. Jacob was 
six years of age when his parents moved to Cumberland County. After the 
death of his father, in 1 820, he resided with Samuel Eberly, who was married 
to his sister Catharine, and worked on the farm for several years, and was a 
"good hand." During this time he was a diligent student of the Bible, and 
transcribed passages which he took along when he was in the field plowing 
and committed to memory, which proved very useful in his subsequent cleri- 
cal career. 

In the month of May, 1823, he joined the Annual Conference, and during 
sixty consecutive annual sessions was every time present. His ministerial 
labors were extensive in his native State of Pennsylvania, and extended to 
New York and Canada as early as 1825, and was in Rochester on the day 
the water was let into the Erie Canal, which was October the 25 th of that 
year. He had charge of different circuits, and was presiding elder for seven 
years ; pastor of the old Otterbein Church in Baltimore, Md., for seven years ; 
pastor of the First United Brethren Church of York, Penn'a, three years; 
editor of the "Busy Martha," a German paper published in Baltimore, Md. ; 
served as bishop from 1837 till 1845, and again from 1849 till 1853. 

Bishop Erb was ordained an elder at Chambersburg, Penn'a, in 1825, by 
Bishop Newcomer, assisted by Bishop Henry Kumler, Sr. Two bishops were 
ordained by Erb, namely, Jacob Markwood in 1841, and John Dickson in 
1850. 

When he had completed his labors in York he again moved to his home 
in Shiremanstown, which was five miles from Harrisburg. He saw that many 
of our church members were moving from different charges to the growing 
capital of the State, many of whom he knew. These he began to organize 
and serve. He bought a lot of ground on Boas Street, on which he hoped to 
see a church erected. In the spring, when he was ready to lift the deed and 
advance the money in final payment, he was offered quite an advance, which 
he could have made for himself, but did not. The congregation got the lot 



UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH 63 

at what he had paid for it. On this ground a plain frame building was 
erected, for which the congregation paid and was not plastered over with 
debt. Of this building a few arrogant preachers made invidious remarks, 
which amounted to nothing. The house answered the purpose of gathering 
a good membership, and out of it grew the fine Memorial Church which now 
stands upon the well-chosen site in the heart of that city. 

Jacob Erb was one of the most efficient ministers of the United Brethren 
Church in organizing and building up that denomination in the Lebanon 
Valley. Other men had worked before him ; but to his executive ability that 
denomination owes its definite organization. In 1823, when he joined Con- 
ference, he was appointed to the Lancaster circuit. It extended from Harris- 
burg to Lancaster, and out to Turkey Hill ; thence by Columbia to Marietta, 
Maytown, Middletown and Highspire ; thence to Hummelstown, Union Water 
Works, Annville, Lebanon, Schaefferstown, Ephrata, Manheim and Lititz. 
All over this field were members who were recognized as such, but they were 
not formed into classes and enrolled in a formal manner. Lawrence, in his 
"Church History," writes : "Large numbers of those who, by the attraction of 
divine love, formed themselves into United Brethren societies, refused to have 
their names recorded in a church book, and were slow to submit to any dis- 
cipline except the New Testament." Mr. Erb regarded this as a great mis- 
take, but he knew that their minds must be prepared before formal organiza- 
tion and individual enrollment could be introduced. He was still a young 
preacher of some four years experience when he decided to do on the east 
side of the Susquehanna what had, for some years, been in vogue on the 
west side. 

From Mr. Erb I received, personally, the account of what he termed the 
first formal reception and classification of members east of the river. But 
before he could proceed he had to get the consent of some of the older 
brethren. He found it necessary to go to Lebanon and present his case to 
Rev. Felix Light, who had the power of a bishop in that county. It was only 
after an earnest plea that he obtained a reluctant permission to proceed. The 
organization took place, at what was called Sherk's Old Meeting House, in 
the year 1 827. This church is located in the northwestern portion of Lebanon, 
County, about two and a half miles east of Grantville, Dauphin County, Some- 
years previous about fifty persons had been converted under the ministerial 
labors of Rev. Felix Light. Afterwards Father Roop and other ministers 
preached to this people, and under Mr. Erb's ministry there was an awaken- 
ing, and many others were converted. Towards the close of this meeting he 
concluded that unless he would class up there would be other denominations 
ready to attend to that. Hence it was that he made his journey to Father 
Felix Light at Lebanon, and when ready he announced at his Sabbath ser- 
vices that he intended to receive, such as were willing, publicly into church 
membership on next evening. When Monday evening arrived, a large con- 
gregation assembled, and after preaching, quite a number joined the church, 



64 LANDMARK HISTORYOFTHE 

whose names were enrolled as members. This worked so well that it soon 
became the prevailing custom. 

Several years after this he became quite friendly with Elder John Wine- 
brenner, being in sympathy with his revival work. They had labored together 
in a campmeeting as early as 1826, one of which was held at the poor-house 
near Harrisburg, when Rev. John Elliott preached with great power. They 
were together at a union campmeeting held near Linglestown in 1827. At 
another the same year, in a woods close to the borough of Lebanon, and one 
at Bowman's (now White Hall), in Cumberland County. These were meet- 
ings of great spiritual power, and made deep and lasting impressions on the 
minds and hearts of the many thousands in attendance. In the year 1875, 
while pastor of the Trinity United Brethren Church, Lebanon, Dr. George 
Ross requested me to bring Bishop Erb, when on a visit to me, to his house, 
in order to get some historical data on the life of Elder Winebrenner. In due 
time the Bishop and I dined with the Doctor and family, at his fine residence, 
when I had the pleasure of being present at the interview which is recorded 
in the "Biography of Elder John Winebrenner," by Dr. George Ross, printed 
at Harrisburg, Penn'a, 1 880. From it I quote the following : 

"Elder Winebrenner, having fully changed his views on the action of 
baptism, made arrangements with Rev. Jacob Erb (now Ex-Bishop Erb, of 
Shiremanstown, Penn'a) to baptize him. At first Mr. Erb objected, on the 
ground that he was too young a man ; but Elder Winebrenner insisted, and 
told him that some young men were further advanced in the divine life than 
many old men. Besides, they had labored together in the ministry for many 
years. Mr. Erb was then preaching on the Dauphin County circuit for the 
United Brethren in Christ, and met his engagements punctually. On the day 
that he had appointed to baptize Elder Winebrenner he preached at the 
Peter's Mountain appointment, two miles below Halifax, and in order that he 
might reach Harrisburg in time, he begen his services at 8 o'clock in the 
morning, and closed at about 1 0% o'clock, took dinner and started at 1 1 
o'clock and rode to Harrisburg, a distance of fifteen miles, arriving there at 
2 o'clock in the afternoon. A large congregation had met together in the 
bethel, on Mulberry Street, where now the Harrisburg Hospital stands. Elder 
Winebrenner preached what is now known as the 1 830 sermon on baptism. 
Immediately after the preaching, and between 3 and 4 o'clock p.m. they 
proceeded to the Susquehanna River, and Mr. Erb baptized him, just above 
where the railroad bridge now is. This took place Sunday, July 4th, 1 830." 
Text of sermon, Eph. 4 : 4, 5 : "There is ' !< >:< one baptism*." 

"In October, 1830, at Harrisburg, Elder John Winebrenner, in connection 
with five other ministers, namely, Andrew Miller, John Elliott, John Walborn, 
David Maxwell, and James Richards, representing a number of local churches, 
agreed to form themselves, for more successful co-operation, into an Elder- 
ship, under the title of 'The General Eldership of the Church of God.' " 

The labors of Rev. Jacob Erb at this time of his life were extended over 
a wide territory. Between 1827 and 1837 he made occasional visits to the 



UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH 65 

societies which had been established in Erie County, in the State of New- 
York and Canada West. These journeys were made on horseback, and often 
through newly settled country. Sometimes he would direct his course through 
the counties of Perry, Juniata, Huntingdon, Bedford and Somerset to West- 
moreland, where he had labored before with great success. Then he directed 
his course through the western tier of counties to Erie and Buffalo, New- 
York. The return home through Pennsylvania was usually made through 
the counties of Tioga, Lycoming, Northumberland and Dauphin. 

About six or seven miles from Buffalo, N. Y., resided his cousin, Rev. 
Jacob G. Erb, an able preacher, and in that community an influential citizen 
and large land-holder. In the same county of Erie, N. Y., resided the Smiths, 
Christian and Gideon, sons of Rev. Christian Smith, one of the early ministers 
of the Brethren Church. With him it was that Mr. Erb made his first journey 
to Canada in 1825. They tarried at noon one day at a hotel to take din- 
ner. Two young men who were on their way home from college were 
also there. They looked with some curiosity on these two plainly dressed 
ministers, the one an old man and the other young, and of course inferred 
that they were illiterate, and wished to show themselves off as smart by 
spouting a few Latin words, when to their utter astonishment Christian Smith 
started to converse with them in the Latin language, which he was able to 
do. This had a bad effect on their appetite. They hurried through, ordered 
their team and left before the plain old preacher could resume the conversa- 
tion. Smith was a fine classical scholar, and spoke the high German. 

From Erie County Mr. Erb usually crossed the Niagara River at the Falls, 
and passed through the townships of Brant, Wentworth and Waterloo, a fine 
scope of country, visiting and preaching in the towns of Guelph, Berlin and 
Preston. At the last named place he had a large number of relatives — men 
of wealth and social standing. Mr. Erb's grandfather and most of the family 
had settled in Ontario years before. 

When the Northern Central Railroad from Harrisburg to Buffalo was 
completed, the old system of travel by carriage, horseback and stage coach 
passed away. 

In the month of August, 1858, during which year Mr. Erb was presiding 
elder in the Canada Conference, I arranged to meet him at the home of his 
cousin, Rev. Jacob G. Erb, in Erie County, New York. There, after spending 
several days, we were joined by Rev. Gideon Smith, and went to the Niagara 
Falls. In the evening we walked over the suspension bridge and went to a 
temperance hotel kept by a gentleman named Skinner, whose wife was a 
member of the United Brethren Church. We were kindly received, and 
found in the parlor Bishop Glossbrenner awaiting us. The next morning we 
took the train for Preston, where teams were ready to convey us some six 
or more miles to a campmeeting. The forest in which the meeting was held 
was grand ; immense trees stood waving their magnificent branches, giving 
evidence of the rich soil which nourished them. We found an excellent class 
of Christian people occupying the tents and cottages, in old fashion style, who 



66 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

entertained us with great kindness. Preaching and singing conducted in two 
languages. One evening a German preacher announced his text, and in 
opening his discourse spoke so slowly that he seemed to have no life. Mr. 
Erb, who with other preachers was occupying the pulpit, spoke up loudly so 
all could hear : "Fang einmal an !" (begin once). It raised a titter in the 
congregation, but had its effect, for he started up in real earnest. To another 
preacher who was very prolix he gave the advice, in an exhortation which he 
added, "always to begin when he was ready, and to stop when he was 
done." 

Everything seemed to conspire to make this a grand meeting; but about 
Saturday a cold rain set in. There was no pavilion nor large tent in which 
to hold services, and when Sabbath morning came immense crowds gathered 
to hear Bishop Glossbrenner preach, and they were determined to hear him. 
The rain was heavy part of the time. A request came to the Bishop to preach 
anyhow, and there in the drenching downpour stood the large assemblage 
and listened. The enchantment of such an audience inspired the speaker to 
the highest pitch. I can, in memory, recall that day yet, and in imagination 
see the men and women, old and young, stand there and drink in the Gospel 
truth which flowed from those eloquent lips. At the close of the sermon the 
Bishop thanked his auditors and told them that in all of his ministry he never 
before had a congregation like that to stand in a rain for an hour. On Mon- 
day Bishop Glossbrenner took his leave, and went to meet other engage- 
ments. 

A few days after, Bishop Erb baptized quite a number by immersion in 
the Grand River. At this camp I met persons whom I had learned to know 
as students the year before at Otterbein University, Ohio : the Sherk brothers, 
Gonders, and others. Rev. George Plowman was the preaclier on the charge 
on which the campmeeting was held. 

As presiding elder, Mr. Erb traveled over a large district with horse and 
open buggy, over that country between Lake Ontario and Lake Huron, up as 
far as Port Elgin. He also had appointments along the Niagara River, at 
Chippewa, Black Rock and other points; at Doon and Canning. I spent 
several weeks with him on this work in Canada West, now Ontario, and was 
favorably impressed with the excellent people who occupied the fine farms 
in this rich wheat belt, and who lived in the thriving towns. It certainly was 
a splendid field for "Christian endeavor." 

Rev. Samuel Huber, who was born January 31, 1782, in 1858 published 
his Autobiography, edited by Rev. John Denig, in which he states that our 
first ministers visited at the house of his father, John Huber, at Rocky Spring, 
Franklin County, Penn'a. He writes : "The first United Brethren preachers 
who came amongst us were William Otterbein, George A. Guething, Martin 
Boehm, Christian Newcomer, Joseph Hoffman, John Neidig, Martin Crider, 
Abraham Draksel, Christopher Grosh, Felix Light, Christian Smith, Mr. Zent- 
mire, with a few others. These were the pioneers of the United Brethren in 



UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH 67 

our parts. This was the only preaching place for our brethren between 
Harrisburg, Penn'a, and Hagerstown, McL, as Father Newcomer frequently 
told us." "When about thirteen years of age, under the preaching of Rev. 
Joseph Hoffman, I became deeply convinced of sin righteousness and of a 
judgment to come." This was about the year 1 795, and establishes the fact 
that there was a preaching place at Rocky Spring in the last decade of the 
eighteenth century. He was converted in 1813, and soon after became an 
active worker, and later an earnest preacher in the Church. By the ministers 
whose names he mentions, the doctrines of our Church were preached from 
the Potomac to the Susquehanna. Houses were opened for divine service, 
and faithful, earnest believers joined the ranks of workers for God and for 
the spreading of sacred truth. 

Christian Newcomer was born in Lancaster County, Penn'a, in 1 749, and 
lived there till some years after marriage, when he moved to the State of 
Maryland. He entered the ministry of the United Brethren Church and was 
associated with the founders. He was ordained by Otterbein in 1813, and 
became the third bishop in our Church. His Journal, "written by himself in 
German, containing his travels from 1 795 to 1 830, a period of thirty-five 
years, translated into English by Rev. John Hildt, and printed by F. G. W. 
Kapp, Hagerstown, Md., 1 834," has proved the most valuable book in the 
early history of the denomination. This Journal was unappreciated and 
underrated for some years after its publication, people saying that it was too 
much like an almanac. As late as 1859 Bishop Erb had several dozen copies 
for which he could find no sale. I undertook to sell them, but found no 
demand, and left them with my sister at Shiremanstown. About ten years 
later, when I looked for the books, I found they had been given to the 
"preachers," and had considerable trouble to find a copy for my own use. 
Now they have become rare, and every man who has essayed to write 
United Brethren history has found Newcomer's Journal an indispensable 
necessity. 

From this Journal we learn the names of families in whose houses he 
preached, and the towns which he visited. Often members moved to Wes- 
tern Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, and he followed them. From his home 
in Maryland his preaching tours through Franklin and Cumberland Counties 
give us a valuable record. So, also, with the counties of York and Adams. 

As early as February 26, 1 797, he preached at Rocky Spring, and then 
was directing his course towards Dauphin and Lebanon Counties. May 3 1 , 
came to David Sneider's, on the Conodoguinet. October 4th of this year, in 
company with Geeting, made a journey to Pennsylvania, and that evening 
Geeting preached in Chambersburg. The next day, passing through Ship- 
pensburg and Carlisle, they came to the residence of John Jonas Rupp, where 
they held a meeting. This place is on the Trindle Road, about two miles 
east of Mechanicsburg. Mr. Rupp was a very pious and most excellent man, 
a devoted member of the German Reformed Church ; one of the founders 



68 LANDMARK HISTORYOFTHE 

and officers of Friedens Kirch, located one mile further east on the same 
road. He occupied a large stone mansion, which he had erected. His 
grandson, the historian, I. Daniel Rupp, in the "Biographic Memorial of the 
John Jonas Rupp Family," writes as follows: "Ministers of the United Breth- 
ren were hospitably entertained : namely, Rev. John Adam Guething, died June 
28, 1812; Rev. Christian Newcomer stayed frequently all night. The last time he 
was accompanied by the Revs. Geeting and Hershey, May 1 4, 1 80 1 , one week be- 
fore the death of John Jonas Rupp, who departed this life suddenly Wednesday 
morning, May 21, 1 80 1 ." Rev. Newcomer's ministerial visits in the valley were 
continued in the year 1 798, accompanied by Boehm, Pfrimmer and others. 

During the year 1 799 he twice made journeys through Cumberland 
County, and visited the homes of those who received him gladly. The next 
year marks an important addition in the establishing of a permanent preach- 
ing place in the lower end of the valley. His record shows that he left home 
for Pennsylvania March 20th, 1800. From Abraham Meyer's he went, March 
24th, to the house of John Shopp, a half mile east of Peace Church, where 
he spent the night. Next day he rode to Brother Neidig, in Dauphin County, 
and returned to the house of John Shopp, "and on the 26th preached here 
with great freedom ; and went home with Abraham Meyer." This house 
continued to be a centre of United Brethrenism till Shopp's Church was 
erected in 1827. I may here add that the elder John Shopp's daughter, 
Sarah, was married later to a son of Rev. Abraham Meyer; his daughter 
Catharine to Jacob Neidig, son of Rev. John Neidig, and his daughter Frances 
to Henry Herr, of Dauphin County, at whose house the Conference of 1 832 
was held. Of this family I speak in Lecture the First with regard to the 
revival in 1819. 

It seems that in 1801 Rev. John George Pfrimmer was a resident of 
Harrisburg, Penn'a, and with Geeting and others held meetings in the lower 
end of the valley. The influence of these early United Brethren preachers, 
and the impression made upon the minds and hearts of the people became 
positive for good. 

The Cumberland circuit grew out of the earnest labors of these men who 
devoted their best efforts to the spreading of vital piety among the people. 
To this charge Rev. Newcomer set out from his home in Maryland on the 
2d day of March, 1802. Soon we find him in Franklin County, at Wenger's, 
Eby's and others ; in Cumberland County at Shippensburg, at Widow Bear's 
(nine miles from Carlisle), at David Snyder's, and at Abraham Meyer's. Then 
he turns into York County, to J. Rohler's, to Lewisberry, and to Maish's. He 
returns by Lisburn into Cumberland County to John Shopp's and others; 
directs his course to Franklin County, visits John Huber's and John Crider's; 
then home. 

Here I will briefly refer to these three York County places. In the vicin- 
ity where J. Rohler resided we now have a meeting house belonging to the 
Dover circuit. "It is located in the northeast end of Dover Township. On 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 69 

the 19th of March, 1800, Jacob Rohler deeded one acre of land to trus- 
tees, on which was to be built a new school-house and union meeting house. 
In 1 870 a new Rohler's Union Church was built, of excellent native sandstone, 
at a cost of eight hundred dollars, and dedicated by Revs. Raber, Craumer 
and Brickley. It is now used by the United Brethren only." An earnest 
membership worships in that church. 

Lewisberry is situated near the centre of the Redland Valley, about fif- 
teen miles northwest of York, on the road leading to Carlisle. In the year 
1 781 Rev. Freeborn Garretson, a Methodist preacher, introduced the doctrines 
of that denomination in the Redland Valley. Here ministers of that persua- 
sion made visits to their adherents ; and since Rev. Newcomer was in sym- 
pathy with their faith and practice, and as they appreciated and enjoyed his 
preaching, he occasionally appeared among them to declare the saving truth. 

Joseph Maish resided on a farm in Fairview Township, on or near the 
road leading from Lisburn Forge to New Cumberland, about two miles from 
Lisburn. He had a son Frederick, who with his family moved to Indiana 
about 1 864. At the house of the elder Maish preaching was maintained for 
quite a period. My father, Samuel Eberly, Sr., had a regular appointment 
here for some years. After the demise of Mr. Maish, preaching continued in 
the house of Peter Steigelman, and later in what was called the Brick School 
House, which was near. About 1861 this was attached to Shopp's Station as 
a regular appointment, to be served by Revs. J. C. Smith and W. J. Leacock. 
Myself and Rev. Thomas Bushong were appointed as their successors. We 
also had for a preaching place Lisburn, a very old village, situated in a bend 
of the Yellow Breeches Creek, and has a brick union church. This town is 
also mentioned by Rev. Newcomer in his itinerary. For a number of years 
United Brethren ministers preached here. 

On the 23d day of March, 1910, I received the following information 
from Mr. Isaac Steigelman, at his home in Shiremanstown. He was born in 
1 829, and hence is in his eighty-first year, possessing a good memory and 
is quite active for one of his age. He served through the entire war of the 
rebellion in a regiment of the Pennsylvania Reserves, and saw a great deal 
of hard service. He is a son of Peter Steigelman, who lived quite near to 
the Brick School House, and who entertained in his house the preachers who 
ministered there up to the time of his death in 1845. He is buried in the 
United Brethren graveyard east of Shiremanstown. In 1854 the widow 
bought a property in Shiremanstown, and with her four sons moved there. 
He has a distinct recollection of the time my father and other preachers came 
to their place. He related to me that when Rev. Enoch Hoffman was the 
preacher on the Carlisle circuit in the year 1 839, being then in his tenth 
year, Mr. Hoffman took him along to his residence at Big Spring, in July, to 
carry water for the hands and gather sheaves in harvest. Rev. Hoffman then 
lived in the house of his father-in-law, Mr. Keller, at Big Spring. Mr. Steigel- 
man remained on the farm of Mr. Keller till after the corn-husking in Novem- 
ber. Then Rev. Hoffman brought him home, and on the way preached at 



70 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

=>Hershey's Church, east of Carlisle, and Kreisher's at Churchtown. Then at 
Shopp's Church, and at his home. Mr. Isaac Steigelman also remembers 
Rev. Jacob Scholler, who while preaching on this circuit resided in the house 
of John Raysor, at the Cedar Spring, about one mile southeast of Shiremans- 
town. 

From 1 86 1 for several years the four following appointments in York 
County formed a part of the circuit called Shopp's Station : the Brick School 
House, the Cross Roads School House, which was about a half mile from the 
residences of J. S. Prowell, J. L. Reed, R. Cline, and T. Thompson; the Mount 
Olivet Church, and the Salem Church. 

In 1908 Dr. Israel H. Betz, of York, Penn'a, prepared and read an ex- 
cellent paper at the rededication entitled : "A Pioneer Church of the United 
Brethren in Christ in the upper end of York County. A history of Salem, 
or Stone Church, from its beginning, 1 844 to 1 908." Dr. Betz is not only a 
learned and skillful physician, but has also given much time and study to 
"local history." His treatise is especially valuable for the record of names of 
church members and "the names of eighty-six different heads of families 
interred in the cemetery there." The people in that part of the Fishing Creek 
Valley are certainly under obligation to him for collating and publishing this 
interesting account with which he was familiar. He states in his address : 
"Among the early families that composed the congregation were those of 
David Fisher, Sr., John Weitzel, John S. Prowell, Michael Bayler, John Fish- 
er, Sr., James Reed, and Jacob Eurich. Later came the families of William 
K. Fisher, D. C. Kauffman, George M. Prowell, John W. Prowell, J. F. Snyder, 
John Snyder, Alfred W. Prowell, Samuel Miller, Samuel Shupp, Robert Baker, 
Daniel Keller, Lorenzo Kautz, John Fetrow, Joseph Wickersham, and those 
of Messrs. Quigley, Hartman, Dessenberger, Arthur, and others. Before 1872 
such records as were made have been lost. The names can no longer be 
obtained fully." 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



71 



LIST OF PREACHERS WHO SERVED AT SHOPPS CHURCH 
AND THE SHIREMANSTOWN CHURCH, 1827-1861 



1827-8 John Krack 1839. 

1828-9 William Scholte 1840. 

1829-0-1 Jacob Erb, William Brown, E. Bor- 1841. 

ing and Simon Dresbach 1842. 

These were the principal men who gave both 1 043 

German and English preaching for these J 846 
years. It is somewhat difficult to give the 

exact order for these two years. 1 849 

1831-2 John Smith 1852 

1832-3 Andrew Ringer and Jacob Snyder 1853 

1833-4 Jacob Snyder and Francis C.Wilson 1854 

1834-5 Ezekiel Boring and Peter Harman 1856 

1835-6 Jacob Ritter and Jacob Roop 1857 

1836-7 Jacob Ritter and Jacob Erb 1858 
1837-8 Frederick Gilbert and Daniel Funk- 

houser 1859. 

1838-9 Frederick Gilbert and J. G. Snyder I860- 



Enoch Hoffman 

1 John Hirsh and John Hetzele 

2 Jacob Sholler and William Wagner 

3 Jacob Sholler and Alexander Owen 
4-5-6 John Fohl 

7-8-9 Jacob S. Kesler 
0- 1 -2 Alexander Owen 



3 
4 
5-6 



-9 



Jacob C. Smith 

Samuel Enterline 

William Wagner 

William Owen 

John Dickson and Sam'I K. Deatrick 

John Dickson and Hiram Y. Hum- 

melbaugh 
John Dickson and Daniel Eberly 
John Dickson and Jacob F. Wilt 



Samuel Eberly was the steward of Shopp's Church for the years 1828, 
1833, 1834, 1835, 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841 and 1842. I have in 
my possession the old subscription papers, with the amounts that each mem- 
ber paid, and the receipts of the preachers, given to the steward. From 
these lists I am able to give the names of preachers in the years designated. 



1828 John Schneider, Presiding Elder 1838 

1833 Jacob Schneider 1839 

1834 Ezekiel Boring and Peter Harman 1840 

1835 Jacob Ritter and Jacob Roop 1841 

1836 Jacob Ritter and Jacob Erb 1842 

1837 Frederick Gilbert and D. Funkhouser 



Frederick Gilbert and John G. Snyder 

Enoch Hoffman 

John Hirsh and John Hetzele 

J. Sholler and William Wagner 

J. Scholler and Alexander Owen 



On the paper of 1 828 the names of members and supporters are as 
follows : 



Samuel Eberly 
John Shopp 
Anna Shopp 
Catharine Shopp 
Jacob Shopp 
Christian Shopp 
David Shopp 



Samuel Shopp 
James Niman 
Henry Batdorf 
George Rennert 
Michael Coover 
Jacob Swiler 
Jacob Wise 



Elizabeth Becker 
Polly Miller 
Jacob Berge 
Tacey Miller 
Mary Swartz 
John Rupp 



In 1833 the following additional names appear 



Levi Merkel 
Daniel Sherban 
Martin Zearing 



Jacob Balmer 
Christian Balmer 
David Sheaffer 



Susan Thuma 
C. Yonez 
Michael Ruby 



72 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

From 1 835 to 1 842 the following names were added : 

Peter Eberly Abraham Warner Mother Balmer 

Peter Smeltzer Henry Miller John Megary 

Jacob Merkel Catharine Neidig Levi Balmer 

Widow Rennert Elizabeth Balmer Samuel Balmer 

Daniel Shelly Mary Aliver Benjamin Erb 

Jacob Myers John Raysor Carl Swang 

Casper Sherk Mary Raysor Sallie Myers 

Anna Meyers 

This does not comprise all the names of members, for the father gener- 
ally put down his name for the whole family. Some of the subscribers also 
were members of other churches, but they are few. The amounts subscribed 
I have omitted. 



(Transcribed) 

CHURCH RECORD 

OF 

THE "UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST" 

Situated and established at Shopp's Meeting House, near Shiremanstown, 
Cumberland Co., Pa. 

In and about the year of our Lord 1800, this neighborhood was first 
visited by several of the founders of our Church, who preached the Gospel 
in simplicity and with zeal. Souls were converted to God through their in- 
strumentality, among whom was our worthy Father and Mother Shopp and 
others ; and through the process of time "the word still grew and was multi- 
plied," and this section of country was formed into a circuit. However, for 
many years preaching was held in private dwellings, but the Church being 
still on her onward march, found it too incommodious to worship any longer 
in private houses. It was therefore determined by the Church to build a 
house for the Lord, which was accomplished in the year 1827. The place 
still being regularly supplied with preaching by the circuit brethren, until the 
spring of 1843, at which time it was organized into a "station," to be supplied 
by John Fohl. Therefore may the Lord omnipotent be wisdom unto his 
ignorance, and strength to his weakness, that he may "present every man 
perfect in Christ Jesus," and that he may go in and out before his people, 
and see the pleasure of the Lord prosper, is and shall be the sincere 
prayer of 

JOHN FOHL. 



UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH 73 

(Inscriptions made in each preacher's handwriting) 

According to the decision of the Annual Conference John Fohl was reap- 
pointed to this "Station." It being the year of our Lord, 1 844. 

John Fohl was reappointed to this "Station" by the last A. Conference for the 
year of our Lord 1845. It being the third year of his feeble labours at 
this place. — Therefore may grace Divine sustain him. Amen and Amen. 

According to an act of the Annual Conference of the United Brethren in 
Christ Jacob S. Kesler was appointed to labor in Shopps Station as min- 
ister in the year A. D. 1 846. 

Jacob S. Kesler was reappointed to this station in the year A. D. 1847. May 
God bless his labours. 

Jacob S. Kesler was reappointed to Shopp's Station in the year A. D. 1848, it 
being his third year in that Station. O may the Lord lay plentifully to 
his hands, so that he may feed the flock of Christ during his stay among 
the people of this charge. The Lord sustain him by grace divine. Amen 
and Amen. 

A. Owen was appointed by An. Conference to labour in Shopp's Station dur- 
ing the years 1 849-50 and 5 1 . 

J. C. Smith was appointed by Annual Conf. to Shopp's Station as Minister to 
the congregation constituting the same during the year 1852. 

According to the decision of Annual Conference Samuel Enterline was ap- 
pointed to this station. It being the year of our Lord 1853. January 
29th Conference met. 

Wm. Wagner was appointed by the Annual Conference of the United Breth- 
ren in Christ to the charge of Shopp's Station during the year commenc- 
ing Jan. 30th, 1854— returned 1855. 

Wm. Owen was appointed by the P. E. to labor on Shopp's Station during 
the year 1 856. 

John Dickson and Samuel K. Deatrick were appointed to labor on Shopp's 
Station for the year commencing Jan'y 30th, 1857. 

J. Dickson continued in connection with Hiram Hummelbaugh for the year 
1858 

J. Dickson continued with Daniel Eberly for colleague for year 1859. 
J. Dickson continued with Jacob F. Wilt for colleague for the year 1860. 



74 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



TRUSTEES FOR THE CHURCH PROPERTY 

At a Quarterly Conference held in this place in the year of our Lord 
1.841, Samuel Eberly, Henry Batdorf and Samuel Shopp were duly appointed 
Trustees for the Church in this place, who are still in authority, February 20th, 
1844. 

Re-elected — Samuel Eberly, Henry Batdorf and Samuel Shopp. Addi- 
tionally elected John Shopp and Jacob Shopp in the Spring of 1847. 

At the Qu. Conf. at Shopps Station Feb. 8, 1852, Benjamin Erb was 
elected Trustee in place of Jacob Shopp. 



STEWARDS 
Samuel Eberly and Henry Batdorf stewards for the year of our Lord 
Henry Batdorf and Jacob Shopp stewards for the year 1 844. 
Henry Batdorf and Daniel Musselman for the year 1845. 
The Same continued for the years 1846, 1847, and 1848. 
Henry Batdorf steward for 1849 and 1850. 

Henry Batdorf and Samuel Shopp, stewards for the year 1851. 
Henry Batdorf and Benjamin Longenecker for 1852 and 1853. 



843. 



1843-46 

Anna Shopp 
Christianna Renner 
Elizabeth Balmer 
Christian Balmer 
Nancy Balmer 
John Shopp 
Louisa Shopp 
Henry Batdorf 
Isaac Neidig 
Mary Neidig 
.Sarah Neidig 
Samuel Eberly 
Catharine Eberly 
Samuel Shopp 
Nancy Shopp 
Anna Shopp 
John Shopp, Jr. 
Samuel Shopp, Jr. 
Levi Merkel 
Susanah Merkel 
David Shopp 
Lydia Shopp 
Magdalena Shopp 
Jacob S. Shopp 
Benjamin Erb 
Daniel Sherban 
Barbara Miller 



CHURCH MEMBERS 

Henry Miller 
Susannah Miller 
Abraham Overholtzer 
Louisa Overholtzer 
Jacob Shopp 
Nancy Shopp 
Henry Shopp 
Hershe Shopp 
Boyd Glover 
Christina Roop 
Margaret Weaver 
Mary Fohl 
Sarah Myers 
Anna Myers 
Simon Myers 
Moses Hoover 
Mary Hoover 
Jacob Spidle 
Frances Spidle 
Benjamin Longenecker 
Margaret Longenecker 
Frederick Stoner 
Catharine Stoner 
George Bowers 
Catharine Bowers 
Jacob Fretz 
Mary Fretz 
Lovina Fretz 



Barbara Fretz 
Anna Shopp 
John Raysor 
Mary Raysor 
George A. Balsley 
Margaret Balsley 
Martin Fetrow 
Elizabeth Fetrow 
Jacob Basehore 
Catharine Basehore 
Joseph Willis 
Jane Willis 
Elizabeth Willis 
Susannah Close 
George Darr 
Rebecca Darr 
Jacob Wise 
Abraham Coble 
Mary Bitner 
Anna Nicholas 
Maria Nicholas 
Daniel Musselman 
Maria Wise 
Fredericca Balsley 
Elizabeth Hippie 
Maria Worley 
Eliza Worley 
Elizabeth Hieland 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



75 



Michael Wise 
Mary Wise 
Mary Ann Wise 
John Kaufman 
Sarah Kaufman 
Joseph Warden 
Mary Ann Warden 



Rev. Jacob S. Kesler 
1846-47-48 

Henry M. Stouflfer 
William Balsley 
Samuel Maloy 
Solomon Markley 
Abraham Mohler 
Jacob Shank 
Isaac Wolfelsberger 
Levi Balmer 
Susan Balmer 
Daniel Kime 
Mary W. Kime 
Anthony Barnhart 
Barbara Barnhart 
Barbara Smith 
Elizabeth Shopp 
Wm. Shopp 
Mary Ann Neidig 
Mary Witzel 
Christian Balmer, Jr. 
Henry Neidig 
Henry Louden 
Rebecca Louden 
John Neidig 
John Myers 
John Miller " 
Mary Miller 
Christiann Fetrow 
Mary Sipe 
Lenah Sipe 



Rev. Alexander Owen 
1849-50-51 

Jacob Erb 
Elizabeth Erb 
Thomas Ream 
Elizabeth Ream 
Jacob Houseman 
Elizabeth Houseman 
Margaret Houseman 
Catharine Houseman 
John Reigard 
Catharine Reigard 
Anna Rupp 
Lydia Brillhart 
Charles Wolfensperger 
Jacob Nisley 
Barbara Nisley 
Henry Ehrhart 
Edmund Noel 
Elizabeth Noel 
Jane Heffelfinger 
George Kocher 
Elizabeth Kocher 
Peter Rider 
Mrs. Rider 
John Reeser 
Christianna Shopp 
Conrad Keim 
Catharine Keim 
Susanna Gusherd 
John Freese 
Susannah Erb 

Rev. Jacob C. Smith 

1852 

Daniel Freese 
Peter A. Diller 
Catharine Diller 
William Straining 
Catharine Straining 
Curtis Heffelfinger 



Rev. Samuel Enterline 
1853 

Tirus Enterline 
Elizabeth Enterline 
Elizabeth Enterline, Jr. 
Samuel Enterline, Jr. 
John Fisher 
Rosanna Fisher 
Joseph Baish 
Leah Baish 
George Kauffman 
Philip Shettel 
Wm. H. Schwanger 
Nancy Freese 
Susan Schlosser 
Annetta Spidel 
Eliza Shambach 

Rev. Wm. Wagner 
1854-55 ' 

Sarah Wise 
Margreta Kutz 
John Wise 
John C. Gross 
Elizabeth Gross 
John Hoff 
Anna Wardon 
Henry Showers 
Jacob Gear 
Margaret Gear 
Charlotte Donberg 
Elizabeth Houseman 
Susan Coble 
Alice Lloyd 
Martha Heffelfinger 
Wm. Ebersole 
Eliza Neidig 
Emeline Reeser 
Elizabeth Humberger 
Anna Eberly 
Henry Steigerwalt 
Mary Steigerwalt 
Michael Wise 



Revised List of Church Members at Shiremanstown, March 12th, 1857, 
with additions made up to end of 1860 by Rev. John Dickson. 



1 John Shopp 

2 Louisa Shopp 

3 Henry Batdorf 

4 Samuel Eberly 

5 Catharine Eberly 

6 Samuel Shopp, Sr. 



7 Nancy Shopp 

8 John Shopp, Jr. 

9 Samuel Shopp, Jr. 
10 Christianna Shopp 
1 1 Levi Merkel 

12 Susanna Merkel 



13 George Brenner 

14 Anna Brenner 

15 Jacob Erb 

1 6 Elizabeth Erb 
1 7 Benjamin Erb 
18 Sarah Myers 



76 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



19 Benjamin Longnecker 

20 Margaret Longnecker 

21 Mary Bitner 

22 Mary Ann Warden 

23 John Kauffman 

24 Mary Kauffman 

25 George Balsley 

26 Margaret Balsley 

27 Wm. Balsley 

28 Levi Balmer 

29 Susan Balmer 

30 Elizabeth Balmer 

31 Mary Sipe 

32 Elizabeth Ream 

33 Edmund Noel 

34 Elizabeth Noel 

35 Jacob Speidel 

36 Annetta Speidel 

37 Abraham Coble 

38 Maria Worley 

39 Jane Heffelfinger 

40 Curtis Heffelfinger 

41 Martha Heffelfinger 

42 Conrad Keim 

43 Catharine Keim 

44 Elizabeth Kocher 

45 John Freeze 

46 Daniel Freeze 

47 Nancy Freeze 

48 John B. Reeser 

49 Henry M. Stouffer 

50 John Fisher 



5 1 Eliza Houseman 

52 Christian Houseman 

53 John C. Gross 

54 Elizabeth Gross 

55 Margaret Hoover 

56 Jacob Gehr 

57 Margaret Gehr 

58 Henry Steigerwalt 

59 Mary Steigerwalt 

60 Charlotte Humberger 

61 Alice Lloyd 

62 Wm. Ebersole 

63 Emeline Reeser 

64 Anna Eberly 

65 Lena Sipe 

66 Susan E. Erb 

67 John Neidig 

68 Eliza Neidig 

69 Elmira Snavely 

70 Henry Fox 

71 Martha Fox 

72 Jane Shettel 

73 Anna Balsley 

74 Susan Kaufman 

75 George Kaufman 

76 John Kaufman 

77 Wm. Kaufman 

78 Sarah Stoner 

79 Ephriam A. Humer 

80 Lydia Humer 

81 Magdalene Shopp 

82 Sarah Shopp 



83 David Shopp 

84 Rebecca Shopp 

85 Catharine Orwig 

86 Wm. Shopp 

87 Sarah Coble 

88 Isabel A. Shireman 

89 Anna Weaver 

90 Samuel Weaver 

91 Esther Sipe 

92 Barbara Smith 

93 John Blair 

94 Adam Smith 

95 Peter Paul 

96 George L. Hehl 

97 Christian Crider 

98 David Cauffman 

99 Mrs. Cauffman 

100 William Smith 

101 Mrs. Smith 

102 John Lininger 

103 Mrs. Lininger 

104 Mary Bitner 

105 George Buttorff 

106 Mrs. Buttorff 

107 Philip S. Shettel 

108 Samuel Gillan 

109 Peter B. Reeser 

110 Sarah Darr 

1 1 1 Catharine Waidley 
112 Harriet Wise 
1 13 Catharine Roop 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



77 



[Spelling of names as in the original retained] 

Minutes taken at 

SIX ANNUAL CONFERENCES OF 

THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST 

For the year 1833 

Published by W. R. Rhinehart for the Church 

Hagerstown : Printed by Kapp & Reid 

1833 
PENNSYLVANIA CONFERENCE 

Convened on the ninth of April, One Thousand, Eight Hundred and 
thirty-three, in Millerstown, Lebanon County, Pa. 



Ques. 1. Who are the Members of this Conference? 

Henry Kumler, Bishop 
William Brown, Chairman 
John Rider, Secretary 



John Neighdig 

Ezekiel Boring 

Jacob Erb 

James Niman 

Jacob Snider 

Christian Shopp 

William Kinnear 

John Snider 

Henry Young 

Abraham Hershey 

George Gilbert 

Frederick Gilbert 

Christian Smith 

Abraham Hershey (of C.) 

Daniel Phifer 

Jacob Roop 

Joseph Yordey 

Joseph Shank 

John Huffman 



Felix Lichty 

John Sidman 

John Lichty 

John Potts 

Andrew Ringer 

George St. Clair Hussey 

Moses Lawsin 

Christian Crumling 

David Fleck 

David Bear 

Harmon Ow 

Richard Catlough 

David Runk 

John Crider 

John Dumaw 

Peter Swartz 

James Sutton 

Valentine Flegle 

John Dayhoaf 



Jacob Dayboalt 
Thomas Huston 
Simon Dresback 
Joseph Barger 
Samuel Hoover 
Abraham Hoover 
Jacob Wenger 
Jacob Felomley 
Peter Hovecker 
Valentine Hiskey 
Abraham Hershey 
Abraham Horner 
William Crammer 
Mathias Cline 
Jacob G. Erb 
John Krack 
Samuel Eberly 
Gideon Smith 
Frederick Flinchbaugh 
David Ginerick, Sen. 



Ques. 2. Who were admitted on Trial as Preachers ? 

George Gier Samuel Edder 

Jacob Ritter John Smith 

David Ginerick, Jr. Martin Houser 



Michael Moulpheart 
Casper Lichty 
Francis C. Wilson 



Ques. 3. Who were ordained as Elders this year ? 

Jacob Rupp 



78 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

Ques. 4. Who remain as Deacons ? 

John Potts 
Ques. 5. Who have located this year ? None. 
Ques. 6. Who have Superannuated this year ? None. 
Ques. 7. Who have been expelled this year ? None. 
Ques. 8. Who have withdrawn from the connexion this year ? 

William Kinnear 
Ques. 9. Were all the Preachers' characters examined ? 

This was strictly attended to by calling over their names before 
the Conference. 

Ques. 1 0. Who have died this year ? None. 
Ques. 1 1 . Were any transferred this year ? 

William Brown, to Virginia Conference 

Ques. 12. Who are candidates for the Itinerancy this year? 

James Niman Francis C. Wilson Frederick Gilbert 

John Henericks John Potts Christian Shupp 

Jacob Erb Ezekial Boring George St. Clair Hussey 

Jacob Rupp George Gilbert Jacob G. Erb 

Jacob Snider Jacob Ritter Gideon Smith 

John Smith John Krack 

Ques. 1 3. Where are the Preachers stationed this year ? 

Huntingdon District, Ezekiel Boring, P. E. 
Huntingdon Circuit, George St. Clair Hussey 

Jacob Ritter 
Clearfield Circuit, John Potts 

Juniata do George Gilbert 

Chambersburg do James Niman 

John Henericks 
Carlisle District, Jacob Erb, P. E. 
Carlisle Circuit, Jacob Snider 

Francis C. Wilson 
Dauphin do Jacob Rupp 

John Smith 
York County do Christian Shopp 

Baltimore County do Frederick Gilbert 
Baltimore, John Krack 
Canada District, Gideon Smith, P. E. 
Canada Circuit, Jacob G. Erb 

Ques. 1 4. When and where shall our next Conference be held ? 
At Greencastle, Franklin County, Pa., April 8, 1 834. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



79 



VIRGINIA CONFERENCE 



Convened on the seventeenth of April, 1833, in Pleasant Valley, 
Washington County, Md. 

Ques. 1 . Who are the Members of this Conference ? 

Henry Kumler, Bishop 
George Geeting, Chairman 
Wm. R. Rhinehart, Secretary 



Henry Burtner 
John Dorcas 
Peter Witzle 
John Huffard 
John Clopper 
John Haney 
George Patterson 
Peter Harmon 
John Zahn 

Ques. 2. 



John Eckstine 
Conrad Weast 
Jacob Rhinehart 
William Knott 
Jacob J. Glossbrenner 
Joseph W. Hershey 
Harmon Houk 
Jacob Houk 



George Huffman 
George Rymal 
Samuel Allenbaugh 
Michael Thomas 
Jacob Dayhoaf 
Noah Woodyard 
Frederick Hisey 
John Henericks 
William Brown 



Who were admitted on trial as Preachers ? 
William R. Coarsey 
George A. Shuey 

Who were ordained as Elders this year ? 
Jacob Houk 
George Huffman 
Jacob J. Glossbrenner 

Who remain as Deacons ? None. 

Have any located this year ? None. 

Who Superannuated this year? None. 

Have any been expelled this year ? None. 

Have any withdrawn from the connexion this year ? None. 

Were all the Preachers' characters examined ? 

This was strictly attended to by calling over their names before 
the Conference. 
Who were transferred this year ? 
John Hendricks, to the Pennsylvania Conference. 
Ques. 1 1. Who died during the last year? None. 
Ques. 12. Who are the candidates for the Itinerancy? 

William Brown John Dorcas Jacob J. Glossbrenner 

George Rymal John Haney Joseph W. Hershey 

William R. Coarsey Peter Witzle William Knott 

Ques. 13. Where are the Preachers stationed this year? 
Hagers-town District, William Brown, P. E. 



Ques. 3. 



Ques. 4 
Ques. 5 
Ques. 6 
Ques. 7 
Ques. 8 
Ques. 9 



Ques. 10. 



80 



LANDMARK HISTORY 



Ques. 14. 



Hagere-town Circuit, John Dorcas 

William R. Coarsey 
Staunton District, John Haney, P. E. 
Staunton Circuit, Jacob J. Glossbrenner 

George Rymal 
Woodstock do Peter Witzle 

William Knott 
South Branch do Joseph M. Hershey 
When and where shall our next Conference be held ? 
Genning's Branch, Augusta County, Va., April 21,1 834. 



In like form and manner are given the minutes of the Muskingum, Scioto, 
Miami, and Indiana Conferences. I have selected the Pennsylvania and 
Virginia because they contain the names of the men who but three years 
before formed one body, and in five years later gave life to a third, and after 
eight more years divided into two ; so that in these re-published minutes we 
have the names of those noble men whose records are in the Pennsylvania, 
Virginia, Allegheny and East Pennsylvania Conferences. 

The publisher, Rev. William F. Rhinehart, promises: "In the publication 
of our next minutes we expect to give our readers an account of the San- 
dusky and Wabash Annual Conferences. 

"N. B. — The following Bishops were duly elected at our last General 
Conference : Henry Kumler (re-elected), William Brown, Samuel Hestand, 
and John McNamer, Assistant Bishop — to aid Henry Kumler, or to act in his 
place in case of sickness, or other adverse circumstances." 





o/# 




PIONEERS AND LANDMARKS 

OF 



|£mrotster &nb ]f oxk (Eamtttes 

BY 
REV. I. H. ALBRIGHT, A.M., Ph.D. 

Historical Secretary of the East Pennsylvania Conference 



IN 



Ihrefate 




N gathering the facts of history of the rise and progress 
of the United Brethren Church in the original Confer- 
ence territory we have found great pleasure. We have 
been engaged in doing this kind of work for quite a 
number of years, for our own satisfaction rather than with any in- 
tent of publishing the results of our research in book form. The 
work grew in our hands and became increasingly fascinating with 
the passing years. We found that many facts of a most inspiring 
character in the early struggles and triumphs of the Church were 
yet to be recorded, and that much that is spiritually refreshing and 
intellectually interesting had been preserved only in the memory 
of individuals. The meagreness of the early records is to be de- 
plored. Many of these were lost or destroyed as being of no value, 
and such as have been preserved are very incomplete in their ac- 
counts. In this compilation of facts we did the best we could with 
the data at hand, being restricted also to the two counties assigned 
us. We have not tried to cover this entire field, but chiefly those 
parts of it in which our fathers commenced operations and in which 
they succeeded in laying the foundations of the present thriving 
churches. 

We are greatly indebted to the following books of reference : 
"The History of the United Brethren Church," by Rev. D. Berger, 
D.D. ; "Huber's Autobiography," by Rev. Samuel Huber ; "Our 
Bishops," by Rev. H. A. Thompson, D.D. ; "Life of Otterbein," by 
Rev. A. W. Drury, D,D. ; also old files of the "Religious Telescope," 
"Monthly Itinerant," and the "Annual Conference Minutes." We 
also feel very much indebted to Rev. G. W. M. Rigor, whose es- 
tate, at the hands of his sons, Edward Rigor and Mark Rigor, sup- 
plied us with much valuable data ; also to quite a number of min- 
isters and laymen for much kindness shown in furnishing us with 
many items of interest. 

I. H. ALBRIGHT. 

May 4, 1910. 



85 




CHAPTER I 

ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH OF THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST 

AN AMERICAN-BORN CHURCH— ITS FOUNDERS— THEIR PREPARATION FOR THE 

WORK OF EVANGELISM— FORMALITY AND DEADNESS OF THE CHURCHES 

—SYMPATHY WITH THE WORK— OPPOSITION TO THE WORK— 

BOEHM'S CONVERSION AND EXCLUSION— MEETING AT 

ISAAC LONG'S— AN OUTING. 

J ITHIN the bounds of the East Pennsylvania Annual Confer- 
ence the history of the Church of the United Brethren in 
Christ begins. Here Rev. William Otterbein. one of its 
founders, served his first and second pastorates, and here 
he also entered into that larger and deeper religious ex- 
perience that furnished the key to his subsequent fruitful 
ministry. Here Rev. Martin Boehm, his associate in the work, was born ; here 
he experienced the joys of salvation, and lived 'nearly all his life. While his 
labors extended into other sections of the State, and into other States, it was 
within this territory, not far from his own home near Lancaster, Pa., where 
his labors in the Lord were especially fruitful. Here he died, and his precious 
remains are buried to await the resurrection morn. Most of all. within the 
bounds of this Conference the Church received its spiritual birth in the year 
1 766-68, although it was not formed into an organized body until about 
thirty-four years later. 

Thus we see that the Church was born in Pennsylvania, on American 
soil. It is distinctly American in its polity and form of government, and is 
admirably well adapted to meet the spiritual needs of all American citizens 
who would enter it by the open door. From the small beginnings at the 
"great meeting" held at Isaac Long's barn, under the blessing of God and a 
spiritual leadership, the Church has grown and prospered, until to-day it has 
become the second strongest among the American-born denominations in the 
United States, the Disciples of Christ standing first. 

Nearly all the strong churches of our land were born in the Eastern 
Hemisphere. They were transported westward across the sea, and their 
missionaries flocked to these shores at an early day m our country's history 

87 



88 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

and planted their banners in every available locality. They came here as so 
many exotic plants, but here they found a fertile soil for their future growth 
and development Ministers and members from abroad have been coming 
here in one constant stream for a century and a half or more, and have been 
added to these folds. Besides this, numerous native converts have swelled 
their numbers, until to-day the Lutherans, twenty bodies ; the Baptists, sixteen 
bodies ; the Methodists, fifteen bodies ; the Mennonites, fourteen bodies ; the 
Presbyterians, twelve bodies, and the Congregationalists, composed of numer- 
ous independent bodies, can count their communicants by the millions and 
hundreds of thousands. Not a few of the valuable accessions to these churches 
came to them from United Brethren altars, especially during the latter part of 
the eighteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth, before the fathers 
of our Church had as yet seriously considered the propriety of organizing 
their converts into a separate denomination. Our early preachers were con- 
tent to spend their time and energies in the one great work of winning souls 
to Christ, and in this they were eminently successful. They did not seek to 
establish a new church, but held on to their early church connections until 
they were practically driven out as the undesirable products of Pietism and 
the "revival movement." In our times church relations are not held as sacred 
as they were a century ago. "Church bonds then were made of steel and 
garnished with gold." Luther, Wesley and others who became founders of 
churches, did not start out with the idea of forming a new organization. They 
sought to proclaim the saving truths of the Gospel, and when God in his 
providence opened the way for the organization of their converts into a 
separate church, they wisely did so. They were members of the churches of 
sturdy ancestors that held the faith and fellowship of the fathers. In these 
churches of the Reformation they had been nurtured, and they loved them 
to the last. It is no wonder that Otterbein, though long a pastor of an inde- 
pendent church and a bishop in the United Brethren Church, like the immor- 
tal Wesley, never separated himself from the church of his father and mother. 
Others like him held to their old fellowship as long as they could do so, and 
many tearfully let drop and die their old church relations, and clung to the 
new organization as it slowly rose into being. Although this spiritual awak- 
ening began among the fathers as early as 1 766, and continued in its saving 
power among them with increased efficiency, it was not until the year 1 789 
that a conference was held in the parsonage of Otterbein's church in Balti- 
more, Md., to consider the interests of the growing congregations that looked 
to them for spiritual guidance. This was probably the first rather indefinite 
step toward the formation of a new denomination. The first regular annual 
conference was not held until the year 1 800, and the first class was not 
formally organized until some years later, and the first general conference 
was not held until the year 1815. 

Thus in the providence of God the fathers were gradually but surely led 
to take steps of which they had not dreamed, to build a structure for which 
they had not planned. Among the fathers who engaged in this work two 



UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH 89 

names stand at the head. Others either derived their impulse from their 
persevering zeal, or submitted to their leadership ; so that it may be said, 
with no detriment to their fame, that without them the United Brethren 
Church had not been. Emerson truly said, "All history resolves itself very 
easily into the biography of a few stout and earnest souls." William Otter- 
bein, of the Reformed Church, and Martin Boehm, of the Mennonite Church, 
were the leaders in the new awakening, and they themselves for a while were 
not in the possession of the necessary spiritual equipment, which they later 
received, for leadership in an aggressive campaign in soul-saving. 

Rev. William Otterbein was born in the town of Dillenburg, in the prov- 
ince of Nassau, now known as Weisbaden, Germany, on the third day of 
June, 1 726. He received a thorough classical and theological education at 
Herborn, spent a short time as "house-teacher," preceptor and pastor in his 
native land. He became a missionary to America in 1 752. He served as 
pastor of the German Reformed Church in Lancaster, Pa., Tulpehocken, Pa., 
Frederick, Md., York, Pa., and of an independent church in Baltimore, Md., 
which he served during the last forty years of his life, and which became the 
nucleus of the United Brethren Church, of which he was the founder. 

Rev. Martin Boehm was born November 1 3, 1 725, on a farm near Lan- 
caster, Pa., where he was reared. He had only a common school education. 
He was chosen by lot, according to a well known custom among the Men- 
nonites, to be a minister in 1 756, was converted to God in 1 758, made a 
bishop in 1 759, and became an associate with Mr. Otterbein in the founding 
of the United Brethren Church after his exclusion from the Mennonite 
Church. 

Every faithful Bible student will notice that whenever God would mani- 
fest himself in power to his people or to his enemies, it seemed to be neces- 
sary to find some one through whom he could work. He could begin with 
one man, but he must at least have one to begin with : Abram, for the revival 
of two thousand years before Christ ; Moses, for the revival in Egypt ; Gideon, 
in the days of the Judges; Peter, with one hundred and nineteen other 
spirit-filled men and women at Pentecost ; Luther, Melanchthon and Zwingli, 
in the Reformation period ; Wesley, and Whitfield in more modern times, 
and Moody, Torrey and Gipsy Smith of our own day. Whenever the human 
instrument is ready, it finds God waiting for him. Whatever Otterbein's 
earlier Christian experience or spiritual equipment for service was, it was his 
later spiritual baptism, received while pastor in Lancaster, Pa., that furnished 
the key to his subsequent fruitful ministry. While here he sought his closet, 
and there poured out his soul to God in prayer until he obtained that knowl- 
edge of spiritual things which in after years made him so competent to give 
advice to others who were seeking the way of life. After this experience he 
more firmly grasped the two doctrinal elements which gave rise to the exis- 
tence of a new organization, namely, the doctrine of repentance and assur- 
ance, the latter of which especially had so often fallen into obscurity, but 
which is so essential to a full Christian experience. 



90 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

Martin Boehm, likewise, after he was called by lot to the ministry, gave 
himself to much prayer, and in answer to it he awoke to new life, new 
thoughts, new faith, new love. Set on fire by the spirit of truth, the very life- 
germs of the United Brethren Church began in the hearts and brains of Mr. 
Otterbein and Mr. Boehm, whom God raised up to be the leaders in ushering 
in a new era of evangelical life in America. God was seeking through these 
spiritual -minded men to awaken the dead and formal churches to the opening 
era of evangelical life. But they turned a deaf ear and a cold shoulder ; hence 
a new organization was called into being. The new religious movement 
grew and developed step by step, much against the disinclination of the 
leaders to organize a separate church. "They were forced by the hand of 
Providence, in order to render effective and permanent this phase of evan- 
gelical life, to permit those heaven-blest elements to crystallize into a distinct 
and separate church, which in the year 1 800 assumed the name it now 
bears." 

The prevailing conditions in the churches of that time were of such a 
character as to justify a general movement toward a separation. Religious 
vitality was low, and the outward life of very many church members, even of 
those who posed as leaders and teachers, was far from being Christlike. 
"True spiritual life was suppressed, and dead formalities, often associated 
with gross immoralities, held sway in the church, and those who sought to 
live godly lives were ridiculed and scoffed at, and persecuted by their un- 
spiritual associates in the church." 

Schisms in the heavenly fold are generally looked upon with disfavor by 
an enlightened Christian public of to-day, a time in which the spirit of Chris- 
tian union is widely cherished among the Protestant denominations. Yet in 
times past, under the providence of God, separation was sometimes a source 
of the greatest good. From many trustworthy sources we gather evidence as 
to the low state of spiritual life that prevailed among the churches of America 
in the period which brought Mr. Otterbein to this country, and shortly after 
the leaders of the Methodist movement. Dr. J. W. Nevin, of the Reformed 
Church, a distinguished writer, who strongly disapproved Mr. Otterbein's 
methods, gave some strong testimony in 1 842 of the dearth of spirituality in 
this early period as follows : "To be confirmed, and then to take the sacra- 
ment occasionally, was counted by the multitude all that was necessary to 
make one a good Christian, if only a tolerable decency of outward life were 
maintained beside, without any regard at all to the religion of the heart. 
True, serious piety was indeed often treated with marked scorn. In the 
bosom of the church itself it was stigmatized as Schwaermerei, Kopfhaengerei, 
or a miserable, drivelling Methodism. The idea of a new birth was treated 
as a pietistic whimery. Experimental religion in all its forms was eschewed 
as a new-fangled invention of cunning impostors, brought in to turn the heads 
of the weak and lead captive silly women. Prayer-meetings were held to be 
a spiritual abomination. Family worship was a species of saintly affectation, 
barely tolerable in the case of ministers (though many of them gloried in 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 91 

having no altar in their home), but absolutely disgraceful for common Chris- 
tians. To show an awakened concern on the subject of religion or a disposi- 
tion to call on God in daily prayer, was to incur certain reproach." This is 
rather a dark picture of the existing conditions, and it is hardly overdrawn, 
coming from the source it does. Revivals in the churches were then of rare 
occurrence, and were looked upon with great disfavor. Such divine visita- 
tions were met with all the bitterness and malevolence that could characterize 
the adversaries of such means of grace. So widespread was this state of 
lifeless formality that even "a converted minister was as great a phenomenon 
as a comet in the heavens." 

The doctrines of evangelical Christianity seem to have been almost lost 
sight of. The moral condition of the Germans of America was especially 
deplorable, and very little was being done for its improvement. Mr. Otter- 
bein and his co-laborers, therefore, occupied a unique position as apostles to 
the Germans, and for the United Brethren Church there was at this time a 
distinct field in God's vineyard that did not encroach upon the field of any 
other active occupant. In their preaching they presented the whole Gospel, 
and gave special prominence to its saving truths. While they met with much 
opposition and heaped upon themselves severe censure, it is refreshing to 
know that they also had many sympathetic hearers among all classes, who 
were being led to a knowledge of saving grace, whose vision was being en- 
larged, whose spiritual impulses were being quickened, and who were seeking 
a closer fellowship with the Lord. Among these were at least six ministers 
who were prominently connected with the Reformed Church, as follows : 
Rev. William Hendel, a brother-in-law of Mr. Otterbein ; Rev. Daniel Wagner, 
Rev. Anthony Hautz, Rev. Frederick Henop, Rev. Jacob Weimer, and Rev. 
Benedict Swope. While these brethren retained their active connection with 
their church, they not only gave to Mr. Otterbein their cordial sympathy, but 
also in some features of his work entered into practical co-operation with 
him, because they recognized the value of his labors. For several years, be- 
ginning with May, 1 774, they were associated with him and others in holding 
a special form of religious meetings in quite a number of places with much 
spiritual profit. They formed themselves into bands or unions, the purpose 
of which was to promote their own personal piety, and to deepen the spiritual 
life in the hearts of others. In this move they adopted the precise method of 
P. J. Speener, the founder of the Pietistic movement in Germany, which took 
its rise in the latter half of the seventeenth century. Pietism was only anoth- 
er name of what in our day would be called a revival of religion, and arose 
to supply life in the place of a dead , orthodoxy, and was so named from the 
associations that were formed for the promotion of piety. Its aim was not 
to form a separate denomination, but to form little associations within the 
different churches with a view of deepening the spiritual life and the attain- 
ment of a more exemplary outward Christian life. Correctness of creed had 
taken the place of deep religious feeling and purity of life. Christian faith 
had been dismissed from the seat of the heart, where Luther had placed it, to 



92 LANDMARK HISTORYOFTHE 

the cold region of the intellect. Purity of creed was more highly prized than 
holiness of heart. "The form of sound words swathed a lifeless skeleton.'* 
The chief apology for the introduction of the extraordinary measures by 
Speener was the dead formality that so largely prevailed in his time, and the 
enlightened Christians generally, despite the excesses and weakness of Piet- 
ism, are thankful that God raised up such a man. Pietism was the wing of 
protection against the blasting effects of rationalism, which was so prevalent 
in Germany, the land of Mr. Otterbein. He and other spiritual-minded men 
were in a marked degree inclined to Pietism. John Wesley, the founder of 
Methodism, drew largely from the same source. It is a fact of profound 
significance, well known to all students of history, that not only the German 
Reformation, but every great revival of religion is the result of the work of 
some one or more persons who enjoyed this spiritual union with God, and 
through whose deep experience of spiritual truth God could speak to other 
persons effectively. Under the adverse conditions in the church of more 
than a century ago, it ought not to surprise us that Otterbein, Hendel, Wag- 
ner, Weimer and others, devout men of God, desired a more promising be- 
ginning for the work that was to be done among the Germans in America, 
where already the aggravated evils, resulting from a promiscuous church 
membership, of the most wretched elements of the Old World, were becom- 
ing more and more manifest. 

We have reasons for believing that Mr. Otterbein cherished the hope of 
seeing this revival movement spread among the Reformed churches, since all 
who had hitherto co-operated with him were leading members of that church. 
But such hope ended in disappointment, and the necessity soon appeared of 
giving attention to the work of evangelism among the churches he visited 
without such formal co-operation. The Coetus at no time looked upon the 
movement with favor, and most of those who took an active part in it decided 
that further co-operation with it was hazardous. While personally they con- 
tinued to be on friendly terms with Mr. Otterbein, they came to regard with 
apprehension or disfavor the more decided measures that he deemed neces- 
sary to employ. Up to the year 1 777 quite a number of awakened persons 
of all classes had been received into the bands or unions that were organized 
incident to the work, and this fact among other things seemed to impress the 
leaders of the Reformed Church that the movement among them had reached 
its limit. While the ministers who had co-operated with Mr. Otterbein now 
confined their labors to the regular channel, the laymen, however, did not so 
generally withdraw from the work on which they had entered. Among these 
were Henry Weidner, Adam Lehman, Leonard Harbaugh, Peter Kemp and 
George A. Geeting, all of whom afterward became active and successful 
ministers in the United Brethren Church. In subsequent times, in Pennsyl- 
vania, Maryland and Virginia, where the revival movement had already taken 
hold, Mr. Otterbein and those affiliating with him found a welcome field. 

Mr. Otterbein's evangelistic efforts were confined chiefly among the mem- 
bers and adherents of the Reformed Church, as he was a member of this 



UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH 93 

church. Mr. Boehm's field of operation in spiritual things was among the 
Mennonites, to whom he belonged. The leaders of the Mennonite Church 
were more intolerant in dealing with Mr. Boehm than the Reformed people 
were in dealing with Mr. Otterbein. While Mr. Otterbein was threatened 
with expulsion or exclusion from the Coetus, such threats failed to produce 
any effect on the minds of most of his ministerial brethren. At one time, in 
answer to such a threat from a brother minister, he replied : "The Coetus is 
too late; the exclusion is past." Dr. Benjamin Kurtz is the author of the fol- 
lowing statement concerning Mr. Otterbein : "During the latter part of his 
life he was no longer regarded as a minister of the German Reformed 
Church." It is altogether likely that he did not of his own accord ask to have 
his name taken from the records of the church, and he was "too heavy" for 
them to exclude. While his name, doubtless, remained on the records of the 
Coetus, his heart, his counsels, his sympathies were all with the people who 
stood for vital godliness, and his former church relations gave him very little 
concern. The historians of the Reformed Church say that "He was never 
separated formally from the German Reformed Church." 

Mr. Boehm was handled in quite a different manner by his brethren. 
They would not tolerate his affiliations with the revival movement. They 
"excluded him from the communion and counsel of the brotherhood." Our 
readers will be greatly interested in following the steps that he took that led 
him out of darkness into light, and out of a mere formal religion into a life 
of vital fellowship with Christ. Mr. Otterbein and he started a train of 
spiritual blessings that were destined to be an inspiration to thousands of 
their followers, of which even we in our day are the partakers. Mr. Boehm 
had been called by the Mennonite Church in 1 756 to be a minister, but he 
felt that he had no message for the people. Although he applied himself 
diligently to the study of the Scriptures and to earnest prayer, his efforts at 
preaching resulted in failures. He said, "To be a preacher and yet to have 
nothing to preach or say, but to stammer out a few words and then be 
obliged to sit down in shame and remorse," was humiliating to him. His 
repeated failures greatly distressed his mind. But he believed in prayer, and 
he prayed more earnestly and more frequently for grace and help from God 
to enable him to teach others the way of salvation. While thus engaged in 
praying earnestly for aid to preach, the thought occurred to his mind as 
though some one spake to him, saying, "You pray for grace to teach others 
the way of salvation ; why don't you pray for your own salvation ?" This 
thought clung to him so persistently that his agony became very great. "One 
day," he says, "I was ploughing in the field, and kneeled down at each end 
of the furrow to pray. The word 'verlohren' (lost, lost) went with me every 
round. Midway in the field I could go no further, but sank behind the 
plough, crying, 'Lord, save; I am lost.' Then came to me the answer, as a 
voice, 'I am come to seek and to save that which is lost' In a moment a 
stream of joy was poured over me." Thus, after a severe and prolonged 
struggle, and in answer to unceasing prayer, he stepped into the life and 



94 LANDMARK HISTORYOFTHE 

liberty of the people of God. After this blessed experience, Mr. Boehm at 
once left his plough in the field, and went to his house to tell his wife the 
glad news. He found that his tongue was loosened now. He no longer 
stammered. With the emancipation of the heart came liberty of utterance. 
He says, "As before this I wished the Sabbath far off, now I wished it were 
to-morrow. Sunday came ; the elder brother preached, and then I arose to 
tell my experience since my call to the ministry. When speaking of my 
estate and agony of mind, some in the congregation began to weep. This 
moved me to speak of our fallen and lost condition, and of repentance. The 
Sabbath following it was the same, and much more. Before I was done I 
found myself in the midst of the congregation, where some were weeping 
aloud. This caused considerable commotion in our church, as well as among 
the people generally. It was all new ; none of us had ever heard or seen it 
before. A new creation appeared to rise up before me, and around me. 
Now Scripture, before mysterious and like a dead letter to me, was plain of 
interpretation ; was all spirit and life {alles Geist und Leben)" A live coal from 
heavens altar had touched his lips, and he became eloquent in praises to 
God and in his deliverances of the message of salvation to those around him. 
He says, "I rejoiced and praised God with my whole heart. This joy, this 
love I wished to communicate to others." From the time of his conversion 
he began to preach the necessity of a thorough regeneration of the heart. 
Many listened to him with sincere pleasure, and the doctrine of the new- 
birth found acceptance with them, and they entered into the same experience 
with him. Others regarded his preaching with disfavor, and apprehended 
that unfavorable results would follow from what appeared to them as an 
excessive zeal, bordering on fanaticism. 

While his preaching was new to his Mennonite brethren, he for a time 
was not seriously opposed by them, as he was in due time advanced to the 
rank of a preacher in full standing. He continued to preach with much 
favor in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, among his own church people 
and wherever there was an open door for him, and with good results. Pun- 
gent convictions were produced under his Gospel message, which were 
followed by happy conversions. These were seasons of great joy to him and 
to many others, and as time passed by he became more and more confirmed 
in the truth and correctness of his own experience. "He became satisfied 
that men everywhere must repent, and that this repentance must be accom- 
panied by godly sorrow, deeply felt; and that there can be no rest, no peace, 
no hope, and no faith without it." He preached Christ and his saving grace 
"in demonstration of the Spirit and of power," and many lost persons were 
brought to a knowledge of the truth. He was aggressive and spiritual in his 
work, and it was to be expected that his zeal would in time awaken serious 
opposition. His brethren did not seem to have the charity to tolerate within 
their ranks a man who saw and taught the essential truths of Christianity in a 
manner different from that in which they saw and taught them. Mr. Boehm 
was in earnest ; he was all aglow with a holy enthusiasm. He was not afraid 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 95 

of white heat, as God uses it to burn out the dross. The great metaphysician, 
Jonathan Edwards, in speaking of earnestness in saving souls, says, "Now, if 
such things are enthusiasm, and the fruits of a distempered brain, let my 
brain be evermore possessed of that happy distemper ! If this be distraction, 
I pray God that the world of mankind may be all seized with this benign, 
meek, beneficent, beatifical, glorious distraction." A preacher who can see 
sinners heedlessly rushing to everlasting destruction, and not be pained and 
enthusiastically aroused over the sight, must indeed be dull in mind and 
duller in heart. 

Such an aggressive and spiritual-minded man as Mr. Boehm was must 
be very annoying to a body of church members who are resting in the form 
of godliness and have lost its power. Mr. Boehm, like Mr. Otterbein, did 
not desire to separate himself from the church in which he was brought up, 
and like him was not moved by any unholy ambition to lead in a schismatic 
movement. But Mr. Boehm's earnest and successful labors aroused against 
him, and against those in sympathetic relations with him, a spirit of opposi- 
tion that resulted in their expulsion from the church. His brethren had de- 
manded that he desist from his course, to which he replied that "He could 
not, but if it could be shown that he had done wrong, he would recall." He 
sought to satisfy his brethren, for he was not a troublesome man, and wanted 
peace and quiet. The vote for his expulsion was finally taken, after a long 
struggle and considerable irritation. Jesus said to the apostles, "They shall 
put you out of the synagogues," and precisely this happened to them, as well 
as to these later apostles of the gospel of Jesus, for their fidelity in proclaim- 
ing the deeper and richer significance of the precious word of life. 

A communication, sent out by the Mennonite bishop, ministers and 
deacons of Lancaster County and vicinity, gives the reasons for the expulsion 
of Mr. Boehm. This venerable document has been preserved and published 
in a volume entitled, "The Mennonite Church and Her Accusers," by Rev. 
John F„ Funk, Elkhart, Indiana. The facts in the case, sifted from all sources 
and reduced to a nutshell, may be stated to be about as follows : "The real 
reason for his expulsion was the part he took in promoting revivals in differ- 
ent sections, and in fellowshiping with those who belonged to other churches. 
Had the membership been anxious to retain in their number a man as pure, 
earnest and childlike as he was, a little difference of opinion as to church 
order would not have produced the separation, especially on the part of a 
man who was as prudent and discrete as was Mr. Boehm." His expulsion 
occurred some time between 1 775 and 1 780. The exact date is uncertain. 
He took his exclusion gracefully, and went on with his work just as he had 
done before, preaching in his own neighborhood and in numerous other 
places which he had previously visited. His son being able to take charge 
of the home farm, he gave himself more generally to travelling and preach- 
ing. His moral and Christian character had in no way been assailed, nor 
was he conscious of having done any wrong. With a brave heart and an 
earnest faith he went forth everywhere to preach Christ and him crucified, in 



96 LANDMARK HISTORYOFTHE 

private houses, barns, and in the woods, where many precious souls were 
brought into fellowship with God. He went as far south as Virginia to help 
others in the work, and was in turn very much helped and encouraged him- 
self by what he saw and heard there. Some preachers from Virginia came 
at intervals into Mr. Boehm's home county to help him also. It was more or 
less common among them to hold "great meetings" {grouse Versammlungen), 
lasting about two days, in some large barn or house, where preachers of 
different churches would preach to large assemblies of people of similar 
beliefs and experiences. These were seasons of great awakenings among the 
people, and of pentecostal blessings, resulting often in the salvation of many 
souls. 

Rev. Samuel Huber, one of the early fathers in the Church, thus describes 
one of these "big meetings" : "It was no uncommon thing for a brother farmer 
to give out an appointment for a big meeting to be held at his house, and it 
was expected as a matter of course that the people attending it should have 
something to eat while there. For this reason provision for the people and 
provender for the horses were prepared in sufficient quantities to meet the 
wants of the expected assemblage. It was not considered a strange thing 
among United Brethren for the brother at whose house the meeting was to 
be held to slaughter a few hogs, sheep or calves, and on extra occasions a 
beef, and to have a quantity of bread, cakes and pies baked, with bushels of 
potatoes and other vegetables ready for use. These big meetings were at- 
tended by crowds of people. Some came from a great distance. The hosts 
at whose house the meetings were held were not scared when they saw- 
carriages, wagons and vehicles of all sizes, then in use, and loaded with saints 
and sinners, coming to the meeting. Some came to see and to be seen ; 
others to hear preaching. In many instances from one to two hundred per- 
sons were entertained and fed during the meeting, together with their horses. 
At the meeting at Daniel Whistler's upward of four hundred persons took 
dinner at his house on the Sabbath." 

The hospitality of the people on these great occasions knew no bounds, 
and they were not made the poorer by it. They were "given to hospitality." 
It was by means of these great gatherings, and the spirit of brotherly love and 
Christian fellowship that pervaded them, that the United Brethren shed a 
salutary influence around them and drew the people to them in large 
numbers. 

One of these great meetings was held on the farm of Isaac Long, who 
lived in Landis Valley, in a Mennonite neighborhood, about six miles north- 
east of Lancaster, and about two and one-half miles east of Neffsville. The 
services were held in a barn on Whitsuntide in 1 766, 1 767 or I 768. The 
year cannot now be fully determined. Dr. A. W. Drury, in his "Life of 
Ctterbein," after considering the question somewhat exhaustively, places the 
limit of time as not earlier than 1 766, nor later than 1 768, with the preference 
for the later date. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



97 




98 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

This meeting marks a vital point in the history of the United Brethren 
Church. Here Mr. Otterbein and Mr. Boehm first met each other. The 
beginnings of the work that led to this gathering were marked by two distinct 
and independent revival movements, which began in these two individual 
hearts and lives, only about four years apart as to time, and about six miles 
apart as to distance. Mr. Otterbein entered upon his larger Christian experi- 
ence in the year 1 754, while pastor in Lancaster. Mr. Boehm's conversion 
occurred in 1 758, while living on a farm six miles southeast of Lancaster. 
Although they lived so close to each other for a period of about six years, we 
have no record of them ever having met each other or of having but very 
little knowledge of each other until they met at this great meeting. 

From this time on their spiritual impulses and efforts were to be merged 
into one great and mighty evangelistic movement, of which they together 
were to be the leaders, and which was destined to spread far and wide with 
increased power and momentum with the passing years in the accomplish- 
ment of great victories for God in the salvation of men. There were three 
of the Long brothers, Isaac, John and Benjamin, who were converts from the 
Mennonites, under Mr. Boehm's preaching. They were all prosperous far- 
mers, and men of excellent character. At the meeting held at Isaac Long's, 
people were present from Lancaster, York and Lebanon counties, belonging 
to the Lutheran, German Reformed, Mennonite, Amish, and possibly other 
churches. Mr. Otterbein, who was at this time pastor at York, is at this 
meeting, whether by invitation of Mr. Boehm or of his own choosing we do 
not know. The large barn was not large enough to contain the people. An 
overflow meeting was held outside in an orchard, and a minister from Virginia 
preached to them. Mr. Boehm preached inside the barn, while Mr. Otterbein 
sat near him a deeply interested listener. As he arises to speak, we see a 
man of moderate size, with long, flowing beard and dressed in the plain, 
simple, unostentatious garb peculiar to the Mennonite people. While Mr. 
Otterbein, on the other hand, was tall, of noble and commanding presence, 
dressed more in keeping with the costumes of the day, and bearing the marks 
of culture and refinement. The contrast between them as to their outward 
appearance was very marked, so as to be observed by all. They were both 
about fifty years of age, in the prime of life, and wonderfully in earnest in 
their efforts to win men to Christ. Dr. D. Berger says, in describing the ser- 
vices, that "As Mr. Boehm proceeded with his discourse, his heart glowing 
with spiritual fervor, Mr. Otterbein's soul kindled with responsive feeling. 
The great burning truths which Mr. Boehm proclaimed were the same which 
he had himself been accustomed to declare, and he felt that there indeed 
stood before him a fellow apostle of the same Gospel which was mighty to 
save. When Mr. Boehm ceased, and before he had time to sit down, Mr. 
Otterbein arose, and with a heart filled to overflowing, cast his arms about 
Mr. Boehm in warm embrace and exclaimed, 'Wir sind Brueder,' 'We are 
brethren !' " In view of the ecclesiastical relations of these men, as well as 
their previous training and beliefs, this incident was a most remarkable one, 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



99 



truly dramatic and impressive. All differences of birth, education, garb, 
form, church order and denominational peculiarities of all kinds disappeared 
as by magic, as the preachers and the congregation came under the higher 
dominion of the one divine Spirit. Men and women who had never heard 
of the spiritual life and assurance of the love of God cried out, "Wir sind 
verlohren" (we are lost), and were pointed to the Lamb of God, that taketh 
away the sin of the world. Scores of souls were saved that day, and hundreds 
wept for joy and praised God aloud. The scene would form a picture worthy 
of the most skillful artist. 

The Isaac Long farm contains 128 acres, and is now owned and occupied 
by Jacob R. Landis, whose grandmother was a daughter of Isaac Long's. The 
Longs, Lanes, Landis, Reists and Hostet- 
ters are among the numerous descendants 
of the Long family, who live in the com- 
munity, and nearly all of them belong to 
the iMennonites. The barn in which the 
services were held is 1 1 x 32 feet in size, 
and is still in good condition. On the lintel 
of one of the stable doors the following 
characters are rudely carved : "I. L., 1 754," 
indicating the initials of Isaac Long's name 
and the year in which the barn was built. 

In this barn the Church of the United 
Brethren in Christ was spiritually born from 
above, and Whitsuntide, in the providence 
of God, happened to be a very appropri- 
ate birthday, the anniversary of the out- 
pouring of the Holy Spirit upon Christ's 
infant Church. At this feast of spiritual 
fellowship with Christ it was natural to ex- 
pect that something be done in the way of 
forming a union or compact for the purpose 
of giving their work proper form and permanent character. Such a compact 
was made, according to the early traditions, with some simple but definite 
conditions as its basis. One of these conditions was some liberty with refer- 
ence to the details of baptism. The historic mode of baptism among the 
Mennonites was by pouring, and only adults were recognized as proper sub- 
jects. The Reformed Church baptised by sprinkling, and insisted on infant 
baptism. Others among them believed in immersion. The leaders in a 
general way agreed upon a basis of doctrinal harmony and mutual co-opera- 
tion, and planned for a more aggressive campaign for the salvation of men. 
Thus the godly personality of these leaders was multiplied many times, and 
the foundations of our denominational life were unconsciously laid, the 
spiritual lines converging on Calvary, and the ecclesiastical influences in the 




Mr. and Mrs. Jacob R. Landi 



100 



LANDMARK HISTORY 



direction of Peter Kemp's home, where the Church was brought to an actual 
organization in the year 1800. 

We must not close this chapter without noticing an event that did not 
occur a hundred or more years ago, but only in the recent past. On the first 
of July, 1 909, nearly all the ministers of our Church, and their wives, located 
in Lancaster County, enjoyed an outing at Isaac Long's barn. The party was 
composed of Rev. and Mrs. S. S. Daugherty, Rev. and Mrs. A. G. Nye, Rev. 
and Mrs. C. E. Boughter, Rev. and Mrs. T. Garland, Rev. and Mrs. H. S. 
Keiffer, Rev. and Mrs. I. M. Hershey, Rev. and Mrs. I. H. Albright, Rev. and 
Mrs. R. R. Butterwick, Rev. H. F. Rhoad, Rev. S. C. Enck, Rev. J. B. Glick, 
Miss Esther Nye, Mrs. Clara Weidman, and the Landis family, whose guests 
we were. The party went from various points to Neffsville, from where they 
were conveyed to the place on a large hay wagon by Jacob R. Landis, who 
lives on the farm. After viewing the buildings with a great deal of interest, 
they were all invited to sit down to a bounteous dinner prepared by the 
Landis family. After dinner brief religious services were held on the historic 
barn floor, in charge of Rev. S. C. Enck. The writer delivered an historical 
address, who was followed by Rev. R. R. Butterwick, who spoke on "Our 
Church Fathers." This historic place has been visited quite frequently by 
our people from near and far, and it will ever continue to be a place of more 
than ordinary interest to all who love to cherish the humble beginnings of 
our church life. 




CHAPTER II 

LANCASTER COUNTY AND ITS FIRST WHITE SETTLERS — LANCASTER CITY- 
OTTERBEIN'S PASTORATE IN LANCASTER— BOEHM'S APPOINTMENTS— LAY 
PREACHERS — CHRISTIAN NEWCOMER — FIRST CONFERENCES — FIRST 
CHURCHES— FIRST CLASSES— LANCASTER COUNTY CHURCHES: FLORIN, 
RANCK'S, MOUNTVILLE, SOUDERSBURG-ST. JOHN'S, PANNABECK- 
ER'S-PARADISE, INTERCOURSE, ELIZABETHTOWN, LANCASTER- 
COVENANT, NEW HOLLAND, COLUMBIA, SHISSLER'S— 
NEFFSVILLE, MT. JOY, EPHRATA, AND STEHMAN'S 




E HAVE seen in the preceding pages how the Lord prepared 
two men with special endowments of grace for a broader 
and deeper work than that to which their ordinary calling 
led them. Through the strong impulse of the divine Spirit, 
reinforced by a great Pentecostal baptism of power at 
Isaac Long's, they went forth to preach more strenuously 
than ever the doctrine of the new birth and a deeper spiritual experience. 
Their evangelistic labors were owned and blessed with much gracious fruit 
wherever they went. We are now to trace more definitely the course of these 
two leaders, and that of their co-laborers, as well as of those who succeeded 
them in their work, especially in Lancaster County. 

Lancaster County is a large county, and judging from an agricultural 
standpoint it is the richest county in the United States. Its farmers have 
learned to tickle its fertile soil with plough, harrow and hoe, so as to enable 
it to bring forth abundant harvests of all the products native to this climate. 
The county was organized out of Chester County in 1 729, and at the conclu- 
sion of a treaty with the Indians in 1 736 it included all of the counties of 
York, Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, and parts of Lebanon, Berks and North- 
umberland. At various times other counties were formed out of Lancaster, 
and in 1 8 1 3 it was reduced to its present limits. The name of the county 
was suggested by John Wright, in honor of his native county, Lancashire, 
England. The earliest white settlements were made in 1 709 by people called 
Mennonites, who had immigrated from Switzerland and the Palatinate. Others 
of the same faith soon followed in large numbers, being driven to forsake 
their homes by the spirit of religious intolerance and persecution. They all 
seemed to have "an instinct for fine land," as they invariably established 
their new homes on the most fertile plains and along the broad, rich valleys 

101 



102 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



of the Conestoga, Pequea, Millcreek, and other streams within the county. 
These were soon followed by the French Huguenots, the Scotch-Irish, who 
were all Presbyterians, the English Quakers, the Amish, the Lutherans, the 
German Reformed and the Methodists. 

Four of the early annual conferences of the Church were held within 
this county, at Christian Herr's in 1807, 1809 and 1813, at Christian Hershey's 
in 1818, and five of the bishops of the Church were born here, as follows : 
Martin Boehm, Christian Newcomer, Henry Kumler, Sr., Henry Kumler, Jr., 
and Jacob Erb. 

A tract of land known as "Gibson's Pasture," upon which the city of 
Lancaster now stands, was chosen for a county seat. The town was laid out 
by James Hamilton, occupying a space of two miles square. He granted 
certain lots for church purposes. Among them two lots on Orange Street 
were granted to the German Reformed Church, lot number 76 in 1 74 1 , and 
lot number lb in 1 746. A log church was built on the rear of one of these 
lots in 1 736, under the pastorate of Rev. John J. Hock, and dedicated to God 
June 20, I 736, on holy Whitsuntide. This was the first house of worship 
that was dedicated to God in 
the town. Up to the year 
1752 the congregation had 
been served by several pastors, 
but in August of this year Rev. 
William Otterbein became the 
pastor, and served it for a pe- 
riod of six years. At this time 
the town contained five hun- 
dred houses and two thousand 
inhabitants. Dr. Dubbs writes 
that in 1 752 the Lancaster Re- 
formed Church, next to Phila- 
delphia, was the most impor- 
tant church in the province 
of Pennsylvania. The records 
say that Mr. Otterbein labored 
with "regular success," though 
amid various discouragements. 
During the second year of his pastorate the small old wooden church was 
superseded by a massive stone church, which continued to serve the congre- 
gation for a century, lacking one year, and which was then "too good to be 
torn down." 

During Mr. Otterbein's pastorate here he zealously rebuked sin, and 
urged his people to seek a deeper spirituality, and to lead purer and more 
exemplary lives. And, as it might be expected, the worldly element in the 
church chafed under his trenchant rebukes, and stirred up some opposition 
to his spiritual and earnest preaching. Toward the close of the sixth year of 




Lancaster Reformed Church that Otterbein Built 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 103 

his ministry, in 1 758, he resigned his charge, thus ending his pastoral career 
within the county. After this he served as pastor at Tulpehocken, Pa., two 
years; at Frederick, Md., five years; York, Pa., nine years; and in 1774 he 
went to Baltimore, Md., to serve as pastor of the "Evangelical Reformed 
Church," which he served until his death, which occurred November 1 7, 
1813, and which has been served continuously by United Brethren ministers 
ever since Mr. Otterbein's death. 

After Mr. Otterbein's removal to Baltimore, the direct oversight of that 
part of the revival movement belonging to the State of Pennsylvania was 
mostly left to Mr. Boehm. Having no settled pastorate, his itinerant labors 
were more extensive than those of Mr. Otterbein. After the Isaac Long 
meeting he early appears as preaching regularly at Pequea (to the "Pequea 
brethren" of his own community), at Landis Valley (to the "Conestoga breth- 
ren" in the Long neighborhood), and at Donegal (to the "River brethren" on 
the Susquehanna). Shortly after his expulsion, and before 1 780, he had also 
established regular preaching places at Rohrer's on Mill Creek, at Stoner's, 
and at other places. All these preaching places are located within the 
county, and all the congregations were principally made up of Mennonites, 
many of whom were brought into true fellowship with Christ. When con- 
verts were found who were truly pious, and had the gift of speech and "felt 
moved to exhort or preach, they were encouraged to do so ; and after they 
had been well tried and approved, a license to preach, signed by Mr. Otter- 
bein and Mr. Boehm, was usually granted them. By this means the infant 
societies were strengthened, the numerous calls for evangelical preaching 
answered, and the Word of the Lord published abroad." 

Among the most successful of these lay preachers was Christian New- 
comer, who was destined to take a very prominent part in the early history 
of our Church, in Lancaster County as well as elsewhere. He was born 
January 21, 1749, on a farm located two miles south of Bareville and nine 
miles east of Lancaster, which is now owned by John Lapp. Here he grew 
up to manhood. His father, whose name was Wolfgang Newcomer, as well 
as his grandfather, came from Switzerland, landing in Philadelphia. He and 
his parents were members of the Mennonite Church. On March 31, 1770, 
he married Miss Elizabeth Bear, a relative to Aaron H. Bear, of New Holland, 
who died within a year after their marriage. Two years after her death he 
married Miss Elizabeth Weller. He professed conversion about the year 
1 767, but lost his heavenly peace largely because of the lack of spiritual 
advisors. In his distress he consulted with an elder or preacher in the Men- 
nonite Church, who advised him "to join the Society and take the sacrament.'' 
He took his friendly advice, but all this did not restore to him his lost treas- 
ure. In the spring of 1 775 he moved to Frederick County, Maryland, where 
he became acquainted with William Otterbein and G. A. Geeting, and heard 
them preach. They insisted on genuine repentance and conversion, and a 
new birth by the power of the Holy Spirit. He says : "They formed their 
converts into societies and were called Otterbein's people, and by some they 



104 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 105 

were called in derision Dutch Methodists." He united with one of these so- 
cieties and became one of the most efficient workers in the Church. He 
began to preach in 1777, was a member of the first conference, which met in 
Baltimore, Md., in 1789. He was elected a bishop in 1813, and served the 
Church in that capacity until his death, which occurred on March 1 2, 1 830. 
He served the Church as a minister for a period of fifty-three years, seventeen 
of which he served as a bishop. For over half a century he was in his saddle 
almost daily, going from house to house, from state to state, carrying the glad 
tidings of salvation. Spayth says : "He was indeed a chosen vessel of the 
Lord, as his abundant labors most amply prove. Though in some respects 
he was less than Otterbein, Boehm or Geeting, nevertheless, take him as he 
was, we are justified in saying of him, that the grace of God was not bestowed 
on him in vain, for he labored more abundantly, preached more frequently and 
visited more extensively. He was just the man by nature and by grace for 
his place. Without him the cluster would have been incomplete." He often 
preached in this county, in the vicinity of his old home, at Grosh's, Bear's, 
Boehm's, Hoovers, Miller's, Zeltenreich's Church, Heller's. Church, and at 
other places. He departed this life at the age of eighty-one years, and his 
remains lie buried at Beaver Creek, Md., with no stone to mark his last rest- 
ing place. 

In the progressive development of the work other lay preachers were 
licensed from time to time. Some of these men had been previously serving 
as leaders of classes, in whose hearts God had awakened a deep interest in 
the salvation of souls. Generally they were of limited education, but the 
fires of a warm spiritual life burned within them, and in their simple and 
earnest way they preached the Gospel of saving grace with good results. 
While some of these men were engaged in secular callings, and preached on 
Sabbath and on other days as often as they could, others were led to give 
themselves entirely to the work of the ministry. At the great meetings the 
ministers were accustomed to outline the work to be done by them, and to 
receive instructions from Mr. Otterbein and Mr. Boehm. But the time had 
come when it seemed desirable that a formal conference should be held, for 
counsel and for a more definite and systematic method of procedure in the 
work. Such a conference convened in Mr. Otterbein's parsonage in Balti- 
more, Md., 1 789. A second conference was held in John Spangler's home, 
in York County, Pa., in 1791. Tradition reports the names of the ministers 
who attended these conferences, but no written minutes of the proceedings 
have been handed down. The first regular annual conference was held 
September 25, 26, 1800, at the home of Peter Kemp, located a little over two 
miles west of Frederick City, Md. Here the Church was regularly organized, 
received its official name, and here William Otterbein and Martin Boehm 
were formally elected as superintendents or bishops. The minutes of this 
conference, and of all succeeding annual conferences, have been carefully 
preserved. 



106 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

Up to the year 1 800 there were only three churches built in the entire 
connection, including the second one named, as follows : Geeting's meeting 
house, near Keedysville, Md., built in 1 780 ; Otterbein church, Baltimore, Md„ 
built in 1 785 ; and Neidig's meeting-house, Oberlin, Pa., built in 1 793. These 
churches were all located in widely-separated communities, and each became 
a strong centre of religious influence and power. There was a church built 
in 1 79 1 on Martin Boehm's old farm, on land which he had deeded to his 
son, Jacob Boehm. But this was a Methodist church, as Martin Boehm's wife 
and some of his children united with that body. The United Brethren and 
the Methodists had for some time the freest use of this house of worship. It 
is still standing, but it is no longer used for church services. Up to the year 
1 830, as far as our investigations could determine, there were only twelve 
other United Brethren churches built in the entire denomination, as follows : 
Hagerstown, Md., 1805; Germantown, O., 1806; Roth's, near Oakville, Pa.» 
1816; Corydon, Ind., 1818; Light's, Lebanon, Pa., 1 820 ; Chambersburg, Pa., 
1822; Littlestown, Pa., 1823; Shirk's, near Grantville, Pa., 1825; Shopp's, 
near Shiremanstown, Pa., 1827; Herr's, Annville, Pa., 1 828 ; Greencastle, Pa., 
1 828 ; and Dreisbach church, near Circleville, O., 1 829. 

During these years the brethren were not idle. They preached and la- 
bored with great success in winning many souls to Christ, but other churches 
chiefly were benefited by their labors. They were slow in the organization 
of classes and in the building of churches. Our fathers, like Abraham the 
patriarch, often built altars to the Lord before they built houses for themselves 
or meeting-houses in which to place their altars. 

The first classes or congregations were regularly organized by Rev. Chris- 
tian Newcomer, who seemed to be the first preacher to see the necessity of 
organization, discipline and order. He says, "On Sunday, April 5, 1812, I 
preached in the afternoon at Valentine Doub's, where I organized a class of 
ten members. On Sunday, May 16, 1813, I had a quarterly conference at 
Peter Brown's, where I formed a class of twenty-two members. On July 24, I 
preached at Widow Winter's, and formed a class of fifteen members." In 
August, 1818, he did something toward organizing classes at Antietam, Md. 
About this time he also formed a class at Greencastle, Pa. It is said that the 
Methodist Episcopal Church was about to get some of his converts here, and 
he took some loose leaves that he had torn out of a hymn-book, joined them 
together, and enrolled the names of his members, and that this was the first 
class-book in the church. He was in advance of all his brethren in the work 
of organizing congregations, and they did not seem to be very well pleased 
with him, as "he was arraigned by the Muskingham Conference in 1819 for 
so doing." Nothing serious resulted from this arraignment against Mr. 
Newcomer, and he went on unmolested in his work. Other brethren gradu- 
ally fell into line with him, and in addition to the work of saving souls, that of 
organizing their converts into congregations was at last begun. 

Mr. Newcomer preached at Christian Herr's on Tuesday, September 1 7, 
1816, from 2 Corinthians 5:21, and "formed a class of eight members." 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 107 

This is the first class that was organized in Lancaster County and east of the 
Susquehanna river of which we have any record. We now come to the 
time when the brethren commenced to build churches within the county. 
Meeting-houses and churches are a necessity in the development of a Chris- 
tian civilization. They assure growth and permanency in the work of the 
church. The heathen religionist recognizes the importance of having suitable 
places of worship. The Buddhist has his temple, the Shintoist his shrine, the 
Confucianist his pagoda, the Pagan his idol-house, the Jew has had his taber- 
nacle, his temple and his synagogue, and still has his synagogue, and the 
Christian must have his church. Many of us have been so accustomed to 
worship in our commodious and costly edifices that we can hardly appreciate 
the difficulties and inconveniences that confront those congregations who, by 
force of circumstances, are compelled to worship in any old place. In those 
early days the fathers worshiped in private houses, barns, school-houses, shops 
and groves. They did the best they could under the circumstances, until the 
momentum of their evangelistic labors had gained such headway as to lay 
upon them the necessity of building churches. 

FLORIN CHURCH 

There are thirty-four United Brethren churches in Lancaster County, and 
the first of these was erected in the village of Springville, now called Florin. 
Florin is a pretty cluster of dwellings one mile west of Mount Joy, on the line 
of the Pennsylvania Railroad. 

There were several families who belonged to the church living in Florin 
as early as 1 834. In 1 839 the first class was organized here with the follow- 
ing as its charter members : John Geyer, Elizabeth Geyer, George Geyer, Mary 
Geyer, Christian Hershey, Elizabeth Hershey, Charles Zeller, Mattie Zeller, 
and Philip Greiner and his wife. These members worshiped for about a 
year at the home of George Geyer, in a farmhouse located one mile northeast 
of Florin, now owned by Christian Garber. In 1 840-4 1 the services were 
held in the village at John Geyer's home, now owned by his son, George A. 
Geyer. The attendance at these services increased so much during the win- 
ter of 1841-42 that the pastor, Rev. Christian Peffley, was urged by his pre- 
siding elder to go to the school-house, which is now the town hall, and hold 
a protracted meeting. The pastor then had charge of Lancaster Circuit, 
which had at least fifteen appointments. He started a series of meetings in 
the school-house which continued three months, and which resulted in sixty- 
two conversions. Barbara Bear, Kate Winters, Barbara Sherrick, Stephen 
Grissinger, Fianna Grissinger, and others who became useful workers in the 
church were among the converts. 

In 1 842 the church was built, under the pastorate of Rev. Christian Peff- 
ley, on ground that was donated for this purpose by Philip Greiner and Jacob 
Geyer. James Menaugh, Sr., contractor, erected the brick church, about 30 x 
40 feet in size, that being about the general size and shape of nearly all 



108 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



the churches that were built in those early days. In 1843 Samuel Seiders 
served this church as the pastor ; Samuel Seiders and Henry Staub, 1 844 ; 
Henry Staub and Simon Noll, 1 845 ; David Gingerich and George Gilbert, 
1846. 

The annual conference of 1 846 was held in this church commencing 
February 20, Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner, D.D., presiding. This was the first 
conference that the bishop held in Pennsylvania, and the second of his life, 
Virginia Conference being the first. He had been elected to the bishopric 
just a short time before this. He felt greatly embarrassed in coming to this 

conference because its membership 
was composed of so many German 
men, as he could not speak nor 
understand the German language. 
But Rev. Casper Light, a German 
preacher, wrote to him, saying : 
"Come on, young English bishop ; 
we Germans will stand by you and 
hold up your hands." "This," said 
the bishop, "encouraged me great- 
ly." The bishop came and made 
many life-long friends, who stood 
by him faithfully until God called 
him home on the morning of Jan- 
uary 7, 1887. At this conference 
G. W. Showman was licensed to preach, and Frederick Grimm, J. C. Smith 
and William Wagner were ordained as elders. A noted event at this confer- 
ence was the resolutions that were passed making two conferences out of the 
original Pennsylvania Conference: 







\ - • 




X ! 




Km^I 




\\\ 




jjmf: 


. 


1 


Fit ' 


f 














Florin Church 



"Res. 25 — That a committee be appointed to fix the boundaries of the West Pennsylvania 
Conference. 

"Res. 26 — That a committee be appointed to fix the boundaries of the East Pennsylvania 
Conference. 

"Res. 34 — That a vote be called and that each member answer 'East' or 'West' to his name, 
thereby signifying of which conference he wishes to be a member." 

The result was that thirty-eight answered "East," and forty-five answered 
"West" to their names, and the Susquehanna river was made the boundary 
line between the two conferences. 

George Gilbert was the pastor of the church in 1 848-49. He had thir- 
teen appointments, 212 members, and received $264.69 salary. David Gin- 
gerich and D. O. Farrell served it in 1850-51; G. A. Mark, 1852; John 
Stamm, 1853-54; G. A. Mark and P. J. Riland, 1855 ; C. Geist and P. J. Ri- 
land, 1856; Jacob Brewer, 1857; D. Strickler and C. KaurTman, 1858; Joseph 
Young and C. Kauffman, 1859; Joseph Young and Jacob Doerkson, 1860-61. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 109 

In 1 860 the annual session of the East Pennsylvania Conference was 
held in this church. Here a resolution was passed by which the co-operation 
of the conference with Otterbein University, located at Westerville. O., was 
withdrawn, with a view of establishing a school in Pennsylvania. Accor- 
dingly, D. Strickler, H. Shropp and L. W. Craumer were appointed to confer 
with the Pennsylvania Conference, with the founding of such a school in 
view. In 1867 this movement resulted in the founding of Lebanon Valley 
College, located at Annville, Pa. 

Revs. J. B. Daugherty, W. Dietrich, H. W. Landis, E. Light, W. B. Evers 
and L. Peters served the church at Florin from 1862 to 1871. In 1870 the 
East Pennsylvania Conference was formed into two conferences, one known 
by the old name, and the other was called the East German Conference. The 
dividing line between them was the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, ex- 
tending from Harrisburg to Reading. This action upon the part of the Gen- 
eral Conference was the beginning of a lot of trouble for the Florin church. 
The trouble hinged on the language question. The Germans adhered tenaci- 
ously to their mother tongue, and they desired to be connected with the East 
German Conference, so as to have men available who could preach to them 
in the German language. This strong attachment of the Germans to their 
language was the cause of a great deal of trouble in quite a number of other 
congregations in various parts of the church. The local church at Florin had 
been organized into two classes, one an English class and the other a German 
class, and in 1876 the German class withdrew from the congregation and 
united with the East German Conference, and built a new church at the west 
end of the town. After years of struggle and dissatisfaction this church was 
ceded to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and dedicated as such June 15, 
1890. 

Rev. J. R. Reitzel was appointed pastor of the church in 1871; C. S. 
Meily, 1872; G. A. Loose, 1873-74; I. M. Groff, 1875; J. P. Smith, 1876; P. 
A. Bowman, 1877-78; I. H.Albright, 1879-80-81, who walked fourteen and 
fifteen miles alternately every Sunday, including Saturday evening, to fill his 
appointments; J. L. Nicholas, 1882; L. R. Kramer, 1883-84-85, under whom 
a stable was built on the rear of the lot; S. R. Gipple, 1886-87-88, under 
whom the church was remodeled ; J. G. Smoker, 1 889 ; J. B. Daugherty, 1 890 ; 
J. K. Wagner, 1891 ; J. M. Shelly, 1892-93; J. F. Smith, 1894-95-96; M. A. 
Salt, 1897-98; H. M. Miller, 1899-1900-01-02-03, during whose last year 
Florin became a mission station, and Elizabethtown was detached and formed 
into a separate charge; G. W. Shires, 1904; A. Lehman, 1905-06; N. L. 
Linebaugh, 1907-08; Clarence Mease, 1909. 

Rev. H. M. Miller started the movement that resulted in the erection of a 
new church in Florin, a building which was begun under Rev. A. Lehman's 
pastorate, and finished under that of Rev. N. L. Linebaugh. The corner-stone 
of this church was laid on Sunday, August 4, 1907, by Rev. S. C. Enck, as- 
sisted by Revs. I. E. Runk and A. Lehman. The building was put up by 
Harry Keener, contractor, of cement block, at a cost of $3,500, all of which 



110 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



is now paid. The church was dedicated on Sunday, December 8, 1907, by 
Rev. L. Keister, D.D., President of Lebanon Valley College, assisted by Revs. 
E. O. Burtner, E. S. Bowman, C. W. Miller, P. A. Bowman, E. H. Hummel- 
baugh, R. C. Rengier, pastor of the Mount Joy Lutheran congregation, and 
N. L. Linebaugh, the pastor, who worked very hard to complete this church. 
Great good has been accomplished by this old congregation, the mother 
of all our United Brethren congregations in the western part of the county. 
Rev. J. F. Musselman, now a missionary in Africa, was born and raised in 
Florin, and is a spiritual child of this church. This appointment used to be 
known as the "Glory Hallelujah" appointment on the circuit, with its large 
"amen corners," well filled with devout brethren and sisters ever ready with 
hearty amen responses, as occasion required, which was quite often in those 
early days. The amens may not always have been uttered at the most fitting 
time in the services, but they came from honest hearts and were helpful to 
the worshipers. A good brother in one of our congregations who was ac- 
customed to say amen quite frequently, was told that his amens were inap- 
propriate at times. Shortly afterward, while listening to an earnest sermon 
from his pastor, which stirred his heart, he cried out in the midst of the dis- 
course, "Amen ! hit or miss." This incident created a little merriment in the 
congregation, but it soon subsided. The amen corners were located in the 
front part of the church, to the right and left of the pulpit, and were so chris- 
tened because most of the amens came from those sitting in these corners. 
We still have the corners, but as far as our observation goes, the amens are 
few and far between. 



RANCK'S CHURCH 




The Grosh-Weidman Home 

held is still standing, and is, considering its age, in good condition 



The history of 
Ranck's Church be- 
gins with the year 
1802. On the 20th 
of May of this year, 
Rev. Christian N ew- 
comer preached at 
the residence of 
Rev. Christopher 
Grosh, who lived 
on a farm about 
two miles east of 
New Holland. The 
farm is now owned 
byDr.H.Showalter, 
of New Holland. 
The house in which 
the services were 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



111 



Rev. Christopher Grosh may well be regarded as the earthly founder of 
Ranck's Church. He and his family were the first promoters of the revival 
movement in the community. In his house, in which he provided a large 
upper room, most of the religious services were held up to the time of his 
death. After his death the farm passed into the hands of his son-in-law, 
Daniel Weidman, with whose permission the services were continued in the 
house until the church was built not far away, which occurred in 1 844. Mr. 
Grosh was of Moravian descent, and was in many respects a superior man. 
He was a member of the conference of 1 789, although he was absent from 
its sessions, and remained a member of the original conference until his death. 
At the annual conference of 1813, held at the house of Christian Hershey, in 
Lancaster County, he was chosen as chairman, as no bishop was in atten- 
dance. He perceived the necessity of organization and system in advance 
of many of his brethren, and he submitted one of two manuscript copies of 
Discipline for consideration to the annual conference, which met in Hagers- 
town, Md., in 1814. Those who knew him well say that the part he per- 
formed for the Church has never been properly recognized. "He was greatly 
beloved and respected, was a prudent counselor 
and a preacher mighty in the Scriptures. For 
more than forty years he was a co-worker with 
the brethren." He was born January 1 2, 1 749, 
and died April 1 6, 1 829. His remains, and those 
of several members of his family, were buried in 
the corner of a field on his farm. Their graves 
were almost forgotten and neglected. In the 
spring of 1907 their remains were exhumed by 
interested relatives and friends, and reinterred 
in the cemetery adjoining Ranck's Church. 

Mrs. James H. Davis, of near the church, 
and Mrs. Lucetta Boyer, of Ephrata, are the 
granddaughters of Christopher Grosh, who are 
still living at a ripe and happy old age. Many 
other more distant relatives are living in the 

community. Nearly the entire membership of the local church, numbering 
one hundred and seventy souls, is more or less closely related with the Grosh 
family. Davis, Weidman, Martin, Hammond, Ranck, Overly, Kurtz, Hoover, 
Groff, names familiar in the community, are some of them. 

While the early fathers made Grosh's house the principal preaching 
place of the neighborhood, they also preached at Jacob Shively's, Christian 
Bear's, Adam Miller's and Joseph Hoover's. The preaching was done by 
visiting preachers at more or less irregular intervals at first, later every sixteen, 
twelve or eight weeks, as no regular pastoral charges had as yet been formed. 
The people were served acceptably with preaching for years by Revs. Chris- 
tian Newcomer, Martin Boehm, Christopher Grosh, Christian Strickler, John 
Neidig, John Eckstine, Simon Dreisbach, Felix and John Light, and Solomon 




Daniel Weidman 



112 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 




and Mrs, Daniel Funkhouser 



and Henry Weidman. Under the preaching of these men quite a number of 
persons were won to Christ, but the brethren were slow in the organizing of 
churches. They believed that it was a sin to "number Israel," and many of 
the converts joined other churches. No great 
manifestation of God's saving power appeared 
among these humble workers until the year 
1 838, when a great revival was held at Weid- 
man's, which was conducted chiefly by Revs. 
John and Casper Light, and Christian Strickler. 
This was followed by a greater one in 1 839-40, 
under the pastoral labors of Rev. Daniel Funk- 
houser, and these converts, about thirty in num- 
ber, were organized by him into a class or church. 

The propriety of building a church now became an interesting subject 
for consideration. Joseph Ranck donated a plot of ground for a church and 

cemetery, and it was at 
once decided to build. 
The following brethren 
were constituted a board 
of trustees: Michael 
Ranck, Daniel Weidman 
and Joseph Ranck. The 
work was commenced 
in the fall of 1 844, and 
early in the spring of 
1845 the completed 
brick church, 32 x 36 
feet in size, was dedi- 
cated to the service of 
Almighty God by Rev. 
J. C. Smith, bearing the 
name of Ranck's Church 
of the United Brethren 
in Christ. The entrance 
doors of the church were 
placed in the southern 
end of the building, away 
from the street, and this 
so displeased Joseph 
Ranck that he withdrew 
from the church and 
joined the Evangelical 
Association. The Sabbath School was organized in 1 84 1 , in an old school- 
house located a few hundred yards west of the church, by Samuel S. Ranck, 




;k's Church 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 113 

assisted by Joseph Ranck. It was transferred to the church in 1845, where 
it has been held ever since. 

An addition of ten feet was built to the southern end of the church, the 
entrance doors were placed at the northern end, facing the street, and a 
steeple was built on the northern end and a bell was placed in it, under the 
pastorate of Rev. M. J. Mumma. Some years later a storm blew in the south- 
ern gable end of the church, when the church was again repaired. 

Several campmeetings were held in the neighborhood of the church, one 
about the year 1 830 on Weidman's farm, one a short distance west of the 
church in the year 1850 or 1851, under the pastorate of Rev. Jacob Brewer, 
and one on the same ground in 1855, under the pastorate of Rev. Israel Car- 
penter. All these campmeetings had the old-time "sheep-pens," which was 
the name of the space set apart in front of the pulpit and around the "mourn- 
ers' bench," enclosed by a rudely-constructed railing, and within which all 
the professors of religion were expected to find their places, and sing, pray 
and work for the salvation of souls. All these meetings were productive of 
great good. 

The annual conference of 1851 was held in this church, Bishop Jacob 
Erb presiding. At this session Henry E. Hackman, David Moyer and Solo- 
mon Weidman received license to preach. It was attended by twenty-seven 
preachers, and the sixteen pastoral charges, composing the entire conference, 
reported a total membership of 2,301. 

In 1876 the cemetery adjoining the church was enlarged by the purchase 
of an acre of ground from Samuel Shaffer for $300. In the fall of 1908 the 
property located immediately west of the church was bought of Mrs. Sarah J. 
Ranck for $800. Shortly after this the stable on this property was rebuilt 
and the long horse-sheds were put up at a cost of over $300. Negotiations 
are now well on the way for the purchase of another acre of ground for cem- 
etery purposes from Horace Sweigert. 

Lancaster Circuit, consisting of thirty appointments, was formed at the 
annual conference of 1823, and Grosh's home, later Weidman's, was one of 
these. These appointments embraced a very large territory in the original 
conference, all east of the Susquehanna river. The early pastors traveled 
this vast territory on horseback, where they did most of their studying, pray- 
ing, and often preached to themselves or to imaginary congregations as a 
matter of practice in the art of preaching. They considered themselves well 
equipped for their work if they had their hearts aglow with the love of God, 
and possessed a good horse, a saddle and bridle, and the inevitable "saddle- 
bags, containing a Bible, a hymn-book, and a few necessary articles of ap- 
parel. Newcomer says, "We graduated on horseback, instead of in large 
buildings." The modern innovation of an aeroplane, automobile, bicycle or 
buggy was an unheard-of luxury for itinerants in those days. 

As new pastoral charges were formed out of this large circuit, the charge 
to which Ranck's Church belonged became known by the name of New Hol- 
land Circuit, and now for some years it is called New Holland Charge, with 



114 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

two appointments. Ranck's Church is now the oldest United Brethren 
church in Lancaster County, and is likely to serve the congregation for many 
years to come. It is the mother-church of nearly all our other churches in 
the central and eastern part of the county. 

The following is the list of pastors of the Grosh-Weidman appointment 
and Ranck's Church, under all the various changes of boundaries effecting 
the original circuit: Revs. Jacob Erb, from March, 1823, to March, 1824; pas- 
tor uncertain in 1824; Jacob Erb, 1825-26; Gideon Smith, 1827; Simon 
Dreisbach, 1828-29-30; Gideon Smith, 1831 ; David Runk, 1832; Jacob Roop 
and John Snyder, 1833; Daniel Funkhouser, 1834; Jacob Schneider, 1835; 
Christian Hershey, 1836; John Eckstein, 1837; Daniel Funkhouser, 1838-39; 
Jacob Winger, 1 840 ; Adam Sand and Henry Stabley, 1 84 1 ; Christian Pemey, 
1 842 ; Samuel Seiders, 1 843 ; Samuel Seiders and Henry Staub, 1 844 ; Henry 
Staub and Simon Noll, 1 845 ; David Gingerich and George Gilbert, 1 846 ; D. 

0. Farrell, 1847; George Gilbert, 1848-49; Jacob Brewer, 1850-51; Simon 
Zimmerman, 1852-53; J. G. Fritz, 1854; Israel Carpenter, 1855 ; P. J. Riland, 
1856-57; Samuel Seiders, 1858, who died here and is buried at Ranck's 
Church; Jacob Brewer, 1859-60; George Gilbert, 1861; W. S. H. Keys, 
1862-63-64-65; I. Baltzell, 1866; A. E. Yeager, 1867-68; D. O. Farrell, 1869- 
70; M. J. Mumma, 1871-72-73-74; J. F. Mower, 1875-76-77; J. C. Mumma, 
1878-79; J. B. Funk, 1880-81-82; E. L. Hughes, 1883-84-85; M.J. Mumma, 
1886; T. Garland, 1887-88; J. R. Meredith, 1889 to October, 1890; Z. A. 
Weidler, 1891-92; L. Peters, from October, 1892, to May, 1893, who also 
died here; S. C. Enck, from May, 1893, to October, 1893; M. A. Salt, 1894- 
95-96; J. G. Smoker, 1897-98-99-00-01; C. A. Mutch, 1902-03-04-05-06; 

1. H. Albright, 1907-08-09-10—. 

Ranck's Church is located in the midst of' a thickly settled community 
about two and a half miles southeast of New Holland, and its membership is 
composed of a sturdy, conservative people, most of whom take great interest 
in the development of the local as well as the general work of the church. It 
has an endowment fund of $ 1 ,600, well invested, the interest of which is used 
to keep up the church and cemetery and help to support the pastor. 

During the week of May 1 7-24, 1908, the one hundred and sixth anni- 
versary of the first preaching done by our brethren in Ranck's neighborhood 
was joyfully celebrated. It was a home-coming week for the former members 
and friends who had moved away, and many of these came back to the old 
home church and participated in these services, which were very inspirational 
to all, and especially helpful to the local church. The following ministers, 
most of them ex-pastors of the charge, took prominent part in the services: 
Rev. L. Keister, D.D., President of Lebanon Valley College ; Presiding Elder 
D. D. Lowery, D.D., Revs. T. Garland, C A. Mutch, Z. A. Weidler, S. C. Enck 
and J. B. Funk. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 115 



MOUNTVILLE CHURCH 

Mountville is a thriving town of about seven hundred inhabitants, located 
six miles west of Lancaster. It is a beautiful little city set on a hill that can- 
not be hid. The first preachers of our church who visited this community 
preached in an old abandoned still-house on John Hoover's farm, one mile 
north of town. John Hoover and his wife and Jonas Garber and his wife 
were the only members of our church in the community at that time. Later 
the services were held in an old union church located on the north side of 
the town. This was the first church in the village, and was erected with 
money raised by lottery. It was also used for school purposes. Some great 
revivals were held in it, and many souls were won to Christ. Among the 
converts who became prominent in the church were Joseph Friday and his 
wife, Cornelius Gram and Annie Stillinger. Some of the old members say, 
"They had shouting times in this old church." The floor of the building 
broke down at one of the great meetings, and several persons who were no 
professors of religion held the hot stove to prevent it from going down too. 
In saving the church from being burned down they performed an excellent 
service for the good of the meeting. 

As our people became more numerous they began to make arrangements 
to build a church of their own. Rev. Jacob Erb, who lived here then, and 
who later served the church many years as a bishop, donated a plot of ground 
for a church, burnt the brick on his farm and helped to erect the building. 
It was built in 1845, about 30x40 feet in size, on the site now occupied by the 
new church that was built in 1907. This was the third United Brethren 
church built in Lancaster County. The following were the trustees of the 
church : John Hoover, Jonas Garber and John Marks. In this plain but sub- 
stantial building the brethren worshiped for a period of twenty-five years, 
enjoying many precious seasons of grace and winning many souls to Christ, 
some of whom are still in active church work. 

The congregation grew and the old building remained the same in size 
and was now too small and inadequate to accommodate the still growing 
congregation. Plans were formed for the erection of a larger church upon 
another location in town. The lot upon which the old church stood was sold, 
the dead were exhumed and reinterred in the Mountville Cemetery, the old 
church was torn down and much of the material used in its construction was 
used in the erection of a new two-storied brick church on the site now occu- 
pied by the new and commodious parsonage. This church was built in 1870 
under the pastorial labors of Rev. I. Baltzell, who was for many years a promi- 
nent worker in the conference, thirteen years a presiding elder, and who did 
very much for the improvement of the music of the church, especially in its 
Sunday Schools, being the author of several music books that became very 
popular. This church was at that time considered one of the best churches 
in the conference. It was dedicated to God on the first Sunday of December, 



116 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

1870, by Bishop J. Weaver, D.D. The trustees of the church at this time 
were Jonas Garber, John Hoover, J. Halls Friday, J. H. Witmer and John 
Marks. A debt of about $3,000 was resting on the church property in the 
spring of 1885. By the heoric efforts of Rev. H. B. Dohner, the pastor, and 
the members and friends of the church, this debt was canceled during that 
year. A great revival followed this noble and self-sacrificing work, and one 
hundred members were added to the church in one year. 

The Mountville Church, like many others, in its early history belonged to 
a large circuit, and the people were accustomed to go a great distance often 
to attend a quarterly conference or communion service. Such services meant 
vastly more forty years ago than they do now, especially in the rural districts, 
where the appointments were far apart. The approach of a quarterly meeting 
was anticipated with much interest and eagerness upon the part of the mem- 
bers. The quarterly conference generally met on Saturday morning or after- 
noon, and the business started in a spiritual atmosphere, opening with prayer, 
exhortation and singing. The presiding elder, who was looked up to as a 
great man, always presided on such occasions. The members came from far 
and near, representing each appointment on the charge, and brought some 
members of their families with them, generally the wife and some of the 
children, making an attendance of twenty-five or fifty persons, to say nothing 
of those who lived where the conference was held. These official members 
and visitors were generously provided with homes during the meeting, which 
lasted over Sunday or Monday evening, except in the fall or winter, when it 
continued as a revival for weeks. Sometimes the revival began in the quar- 
terly conference on Saturday, which is largely accounted for upon the ground 
that parents often brought their children and husbands their wives, and vice 
versa, for the sake of their conversion. They also took them to the camp- 
meetings for the same purpose. If the revival fire failed to break out on Sat- 
urday during the day, it was sure to break out in the evening, which was al- 
ways an interesting and edifying occasion. And those revivals were not 
scenes of mere intense excitement or morbid emotion, as some may think 
and say, and as we have witnessed them in recent years, but they were occa- 
sions of pungent conviction and deep sorrow for sin, culminating in a sense 
of forgiveness which made joy the dominant note of the time. This is the 
sort of a revival our souls long to see, and which we pray may spread from 
heart to heart, from home to home, and from conference to conference. 

The second church at Mountville served all the needs of the congregation 
for a period of thirty-seven years, when a larger and more modern church 
was needed. A number of efforts to rebuild were made under several pas- 
torates, but the building did not materialize. In the fall of 1904, under the 
pastoral labors of Rev. J. M. Walters, a subscription list was started in earnest 
with a view of building a good church. The trustees for this church were 
J. H. Witmer, R. M. Friday, J. G. Stehman, H. S. Immel, J. P. Gable, John H. 
Lehman, J. M. Weller, who with the following added, A. B. Fisher and Rev. 
J. M. Walters, constituted the building committee. These trustees bought the 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



117 



lot back again upon which the first church had stood for $1 ,000, and pro- 
ceeded to build the new church upon it. In March, 1905, the old church was 
torn down, and much of the material of the first church that was used in the 
second and that of 
the second church 
was used in the 
erection of the pres- 
ent edifice. During 
its construction the 
congregation wor- 
shiped in Mechan- 
ics Hall for two 
years, then in the 
Mennonite church 
during the summer 
of 1907, until the 
Sunday School 
room was finished, 
when all the ser- 
vices were held 
there until the audi- 
ence room was 
completed. The 
corner-stone of this 
church was laid 
July 23, 1905, by 
Rev. D. D. Lowery, 
D.D., presiding eld- 
er of the confer- 
ence, who has been 
serving in that ca- 
pacity for a period 
of seventeen con- 
secutive years. The church is 56x88 feet in size, is substantially built of 
stone, which have a beautiful marble-like appearance. The church is well 
equipped for a long and splendid service in the Master's kingdom, among its 
furnishings being a large pipe-organ. It was erected at a cost of^$3 3,000, 
and was dedicated to the triune God on Sunday, September 22, 1907, by 
Rev. W. R. Funk, D.D., agent of the Publishing House at Dayton, O., assisted 
by Rev. J. M. Walters, the faithful pastor, who worked hard in helping to 
carry this great undertaking through to its successful completion. 

The parsonage was erected in 1909 under the pastorate of Rev. R. R. 
Butterwick, on the site that had been occupied by the second church, at a 
cost of $5,000. It is one of the best parsonages in the conference, and is 
furnished throughout with all the modern conveniences. 




Mountville Church 



118 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



As far as we could learn, the preachers who traveled Lancaster Circuit 
preached at the Mountville appointment until Mountville Circuit was formed, 

which occurred about the year 1862. 
The following is a list of the pastors who 
preached in the Mountville church, each 
beginning his pastorate in the spring of 
the year up to the year 1 889, when the 
annual conference began to hold its ses- 
sions in the fall of the year: Revs. Joseph 
Young, 1 862-63 ; W. R. Coursay and G. 
A. Lee, 1 864 ; Israel Carpenter and W. 
R. Coursay, 1 865 ; Israel Carpenter, 1 866 ; 
W. S. H. Keys, 1867-68; A. H. Kauff- 
man, 1869; I. Baltzell, 1870-71-72; J. C. 
Mumma, 1873-74-75-76; I. Carpenter, 
1877; E. L. Hughes, 1878-79-80; M.J. 
Mumma, 1881-82-83; H. B. Dohner, 
1884-85; E. Ludwig, 1886-87-88; J. A. 
Lyter, from October, 1888, to October, 
1891; Z. A. Weidler, 1892-93; G. L. 
Shaffer, 1894-95; A. L. Shannon, 1896- 
97; J. T. Shaffer, 1898-99; D. S. Eshel- 
man, 1900-01-02; J. M. Walters, 1903- 
Rev. d. d. Lowery, d.d. 04-05-06-0 7; R. R. Butterwick, 1 908-09—. 

The annual conference of 1852 was held here in the first church, Bishop 
J. J. Glossbrenner, D.D., presiding, and again in the second church in 1871, 
with Bishop J. Weaver, D.D., presiding; also in 1886, with Bishop J. Dickson, 
D.D., presiding. 

The Mountville congregation helped to establish our church in Colum- 
bia, Ironville, Centerville, Silver Spring, Marietta, Lancaster; also Stehman's 
Church, Green Hill Church, Highville Church, and some others, thus greatly 
multiplying her usefulness in the Lord's service. 







SOUDERSBURG — ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 

In the year 1 843 the Church of the United Brethren in Christ first be- 
came known in this community. Jacob Stehman, of Soudersburg, identified 
himself with the church at Intercourse, three miles away, 
where he was a most faithful worker and regular attendant, 
becoming later a local preacher. In the fall of 1 846 a 
congregation was organized in Soudersburg, with the fol- 
lowing as its charter members: Jacob Stehman, Mariah 
Stehman, Michael Good, Polly Good, Andrew Stiffel, Jacob 
Groff, Mary Groff, Mary McAllister and William Given. 
Nearly all of these persons had been members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church near the town, but on account of a Rev. Jacob Stehman 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 119 

disagreement with reference to matters of church polity they withdrew from 
that church and joined ours. 

In 1847 a small frame church was built in Soudersburg, about 30x35 feet 
in size, under the pastorate of Rev. D. O. Farrell, who then was pastor of 
Lancaster Circuit. This church was known as the "little white church," and 
here God was pleased to bless this small band of worshipers very greatly 
with some of the greatest revivals of religion ever held in the community. 
Many persons were here won to Christ through the consecrated efforts of his 
people. For a period of about twenty-two years the congregation held its 
services in this building. Rev. M. J. Mumma held a meeting in this church 
which commenced on the evening of Thanksgiving Day, which was not 
without penitents for a single evening from its beginning to its close on the 
last Saturday evening of the following March. There were seventy-five con- 
versions reported, among them were some of the best citizens of the town 
and of several of the adjoining towns. This great meeting was held in the 
winter of 1871 -72, and in the spring of 1 872 the Sunday School was organized. 
The growth of the congregation by this time developed into the necessity of 
having a larger and more convenient house of worship. 

When the question of building a new church arose there was considerable 
discussion among the people as to where it should be built. The members 
chiefly resided in Soudersburg, Paradise and Gordonville, located from half 
a mile to a mile apart. Each town wanted the church. As a compromise 
measure it was pretty generally agreed to build midway between the three 
towns. After the location had been settled some still contended that it was 
a poor one, out in the country, and some one said, "it is half a mile from 
nowhere." But time has proved that the church is well located, on a beautiful 
elevated plot of ground known as "Samples Hill," convenient to the three 
towns, especially since the electric railway cars run by it. 

In 1876 the tract of land upon which the church now stands was bought 
of Mr. H. Espenshade at a cost of $500. The corner-stone of the church was 
laid in the spring of 1877 under the pastorate of Rev. J. D. Killian, under 
whom also the building was completed during the following spring at a cost 
of $6,000. It is a beautiful and commodious house of worship. It is a brick, 
pilastered structure, 44 x 62 feet, with an addition of a four-foot pulpit recess. 
The story is twenty feet in the clear, with a heavy cornice of gilt and bright 
blue, which corresponds in color with the handsome chandeliers suspended 
from the ceiling, and which light up the audience room brilliantly. This 
church, named St. John's, was not dedicated to God until many years after 
its completion, although two distinct efforts had been made to do so, one on 
May 19, 1878, by Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner, D.D., and another in December, 
1882. Both efforts resulted in failures, as they "stalled each time at the bot- 
tom of the financial hill." 

Shortly after the church was built the brethren of the Soudersburg church 
went to Lancaster to secure a charter for said church, and to incorporate the 
Soudersburg class into the congregation of St. John's Church of Paradise. 



120 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 




The names of the brethren who procured the papers of incorporation are 
Daniel Espenshade, Benjamin Herr, Amos Hershey, Jacob Stehman, John 

Burkey, Elias Irwin, Elam 
Hershey, D. Longenecker 
and A. B. Bender. Imme- 
diately, in harmony with 
the provisions of the char- 
ter, a legally recognized 
board of trustees was elected 
by the St. John's congrega- 
tion, into whose hands the 
property was transferred, 
to be held in sacred trust 
for the members of the 
congregation and for the 
East Pennsylvania Confer- 
ence of the Church of the 
United Brethren in Christ. 
The following individuals 
composed the first board, 
who were elected to office 
after the church had been 
com pl ete J . El am Hershey, 
Jacob Stehman, D. Longenecker, John Groff and Abraham Ressler. 

In the spring of 1878 the congregation moved out of the old church at 
Soudersburg into the new church, but a heavy debt like a huge black cloud 
rested upon this property, which not only greatly hindered its success in the 
Lord's work, but also threatened its very existence. The debt grew with age 
and became more and more a stubborn problem to solve. For a period of 
twelve years but little was done to relieve the situation. There were several 
causes for this heavy debt, which we note here, and which one of the pastors 
of the church gathered from the minutes of the proceedings of the board of 
trustees, as follows : "There was too large a vision of the financial ability of 
those upon whom the heavy expenses incident to the building of the church 
eventually devolved, on the faith of those who planned and built it. There 
was also a lack of Christian economy before and after its erection, and there 
was a failure to proceed on a strong financial basis in an honest business-like 
way in the transactions of the board." 

Whatever the causes for the heavy debt may have been, under its pres- 
sure the membership of the church gradually dwindled down to almost noth- 
ing, some having moved away or died, some joining other neighboring 
churches, and others making shipwreck of their faith. By this time many be- 
gan to believe in the truthfulness of the common saying, "That it is one thing 
to build a church and quite another to pay for it." Matters in connection 
with the church had gone from bad to worse, until it became so serious that 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 12! 

the annual conference, held in Mountville in 1 890, ordered that the property- 
be sold, and appointed a board of trustees to execute this order in harmony 
with the discipline of the church. The brethren who were elected to per- 
form this unpleasant task were Benjamin Herr, Harry Murr, D. Espenshade, 
D. Longenecker and John Glouner. Instead of selling the church, as they 
were ordered to do by the conference, these trustees with other friends put 
forth heroic efforts to save it, and they succeeded in doing so. D. Espenshade 
and D. Longenecker placed themselves under the load by giving their indi- 
vidual notes to relieve the situation : be it said to their everlasting credit. 
They were friends of the church in need and in deed. This noble and gen- 
erous act of theirs gave at least temporary relief, and the church at once went 
to work in earnest to raise some money. They succeeded in securing some 
funds, but not enough to satisfy the claimants. On Christmas, 1 89 1 , Rev. H. 
F. McNelly assumed the pastorate of St. John's congregation by appointment 
of Presiding Elder H. B. Dohner. At this time the church was in the hands 
of the sheriff. Brother McNelly says, "Then we had but few people, about 
twenty members all told. The church had lost her influence, and the work 
was generally an uphill business. The year 1 892 was spent in getting the 
debt adjusted and in making very necessary repairs." Within these quotation 
marks, with a few strokes of the pen, this modest brother pastor records a 
year of splendid achievements, thus turning a church that was almost hope- 
lessly lost to us on to a march of triumph and success, which still continues. 
The struggles of this church under its load of debt for so many years, especi- 
ally of the pastors of this period, who labored under great disadvantage, re- 
mind us of the fact that the work of the Christian minister is the hardest 
and the sweetest work on earth, the hardest when the work drags and appar- 
ently fails, and the sweetest when victory crowns his efforts. 

The church was finally dedicated to God on Christmas, 1892, by Bishop 
N. Castle, D.D., fifteen years after its erection, with its entire indebtedness 
provided for. And best of all, after these solemn services were concluded 
the meeting was continued, in which ninety-one souls were converted to God 
and seventy-eight new members were received into church fellowship, sixty- 
six of whom were heads of families. This great meeting firmly established 
the church and restored her lost prestige in the community. Shortly after 
this thirty-six more members were added to swell the growing numbers, 
many of whom were among the leading citizens of the community. 

In 1892 St. John's Church was made a station, and has remained such 
ever since. The early pastors who served this congregation while connected 
with New Holland Circuit up to the year 1875 were Revs. Samuel Seiders, 
Henry Staub, Simon Noll, George Gilbert, D. O. Farrell, Jacob Brewer, S. 
Zimmerman, J. G. Fritz, I. Carpenter, P. J. Riland, W. S. H. Keys, I. Baltzell, 
A. F. Yeager and M. J. Mumma. In 1875 Intercourse, Soudersburg, Straus- 
burg, Monterey and Mount Pleasant were constituted a pastoral charge, and 
the following were the pastors of St. John's Church ever since under all the 
change of boundaries that may have occurred: Revs. J. K. Fisher, 1875-76; 



122 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

J. D. Killian, 1877-78; J. S. Riddle, 1879; I. M. Groff, 1880; E. L. Hughes, 
1881-82; J. N. Munden, 1883: L.Peters, 1884-85; M. A. Salt, 1886-87; P. 
A. Bowman, 1 888 ; Z. C. Mower, 1 889 to March, 1 890 ; M. P. Sanders, 1 890 ; 
H. F. McNelly, 1891-92-93-94-95; L. R. Kramer, 1896; E. O. Burtner, 1897; 
H. T. Denlinger, who resigned, and G. W. M. Rigor was appointed 1 898, who 
enjoyed a successful year ; A. K. Wier, 1 899-00-0 1 , who served a prosperous 
term and under whom the last dollar of indebtedness on the property was paid ; 
W. O. Jones and E. F. Sherman, 1 902 ; H. C. Philips, 1 903 ; E. J. Renshaw, from 
1 904 to the present time. This brother has had marvelous success in this con- 
gregation, especially along evangelistic and spiritual lines, and is deservedly 
popular among his people and in the community. The congregation has passed 
through many difficulties and endured much affliction, but only the dross was 
separated from the pure gold, which was made the purer and better by the fires 
through which it passed. A few years ago a fine large parsonage was erected 
on a lot adjoining the church under the present pastor. 

P AN NABECKER'S— PARADISE CHURCH 

This church is located in Clay Township, near the northern boundary 
line of the county, and near the village of Hopeland. Rev. Samuel Seiders 
traveled Berks County Circuit in I 844-45-46, and during these years he occa- 
sionally came into this neighborhood and preached in the barns that belonged 
to Gideon Weidman and Jacob Snyder, the only members of our church who 
lived in this section. In the Spring of 1 846 Rev. Simon Noll was sent to this 
circuit. He came into this part of the country in the Fall of this year and 
preached at Gideon Weidman's on a certain Sunday evening. Jesse Panna- 
becker, a prominent citizen and a member of the German Reformed Church, 
was present at this service, and he invited Rev. Noll to come and hold ser- 
vices in his barn on Monday evening. The invitation was kindly received 
and accepted. After the preacher had preached that evening he gave an invi- 
tation' to seekers, and two penitents came to the altar of prayer : one was Mrs. 
Henry Landis, the mother of Prof. J. P. Landis, D.D., of Bonebrake Theological 
Seminary, and Mrs. John Geise. Rev. Noll asked for permission to hold ser- 
vices on Tuesday evening also, which was granted after consulting Mrs. Panna- 
becker. The services on that evening were better than on the previous 
evening. Henry Landis, John Geise and several others came to the altar of 
prayer. Many more came forward on Wednesday evening. Cold weather 
setting in, the services were transferred to Mr. Pannabecker's house, where the 
meetings were continued until eighteen precious souls were brought into the 
kingdom of God. 

These converts were organized into a class with the following as its 
charter members : Joseph Snyder, Veronica Snyder, Gideon Weidman, Judith 
Weidman, Henry Landis and his wife, John Geise, Polly Geise, Jesse Panna- 
becker, Kate Pannabecker, Christian Dullabohn, Margaret Dullabohn, William 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



123 



Richardson, Susan Richardson, Peter Fidler, Margaret Fidler, Samuel Ruth, Sr., 
Sarah Ruth, Henry Cassabalm, Catherine Cassabalm, David Carpenter and 
Sarah Carpenter. Jesse Pannabecker was elected the first leader of this class. 

It was decided to build a church, and they at once began to plan for it. 
At a quarterly meeting the following brethren were constituted a board of 
trustees : Gideon Weidman, Joseph Snyder and Jesse Pannabecker, the last one 
named donating a plot of ground for the church. While other sites that were 
offered were considered, the lot offered by Mr. Pannabecker was accepted. 
The ground for the new church was broken early in the Spring of 1847 ; the 
completed church was dedicated in the fall of the same year, under the pas- 
torate of Rev. Simon Noll. The circuit to which this church belonged consisted 
of nine appointments in 1847, and the pastor received on the whole 
charge $100 salary for the year and $5.50 as presents. He took in sixty 
members at this one church in the two years of his pastorate. The church was 
known as Pannabecker's Church 
up to 1 859, when Mr. Pannabecker 
for some reason withdrew from the 
church, and the congregation re- 
turned to him all the money he 
had contributed toward the erec- 
tion of the building. In the annual 
conference minutes of 1 860 it was 
called the "Stone Church," but this 
name was not agreeable to the taste 
of Rev. Simon Noll, who was again 
serving the charge as pastor, and 
he gave it the name of "Paradise 
Church," which it retains. 

In 1 889 the church was en- 
larged and remodeled under the 
pastorate of Rev. A. L. Shannon at 
a cost of $3,000. The following 
brethren constituted the board of 
trustees : John H. Miller, Jacob H. 
Hackman, H. L. Erb, D. M. Weid- 
man and George Ruth. The church 
was reopened for services October 27, 1889, by Rev. C.J. Kephart, D.D., 
President of Lebanon Valley College, assisted by Revs. H. B. Dohner, M. J. 
Mumma, H. B. Spayd, S. C. Enck and H. M. Miller. Although the weather on 
this occasion was very unpleasant, the services were well attended and suf- 
ficient funds were provided to meet all just claims. These improvements made 
this one of the best and most substantial country churches in the conference. 

For many years this church belonged to large circuits, as follows : Berks 
County Circuit, Sinking Spring Circuit, Myerstown Circuit, Shaefferstown Circuit, 




Paradise Church 



124 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

and possibly to others, but now for some years past it is served as a station. The 
following pastors served this church from its beginning until now : Revs. Simon 
Noll, 1846-47; Christian Seachrist and S. VonNeida, 1848; Christian Seachrist 
and George Smith, 1849; Henry Schropp, 1850; David Gingerich and H. W. 
Landis, 185 1-52; the latter resigned during the last year and John Moyer was 
appointed; C. G. Geist and C. Kauffman, 1853; C. G. Geist and Rudolph 
Light, 1 854; Samuel Seiders, 1 855 ; Wesley Deitrich and J. Runk, 1 856 ; H. W. 
Landis, 1857; David Moyer, 1858; A. Steigerwald and Eph. Light, 1859; Simon 
Noll, 1860; Simon Noll and S. Enterline, 1 861 ; L. Fleischer, 1 862-63 ; J. Runk 
(resigned) ; George Hoffman, 1 864 ; John Binkley, 1 865 ; John Moyer, 1 866; W. 
H. Woland (resigned); Mr. Knerr, George Kauffman and H. Dissinger, 1 867 ; G. 
W. Hoffman (resigned); Henry and W. S. Dissinger, 1 868 ; J. D. A. Garman, 
1869-70; James Shopp, 1871-72; George Shindler, 1873-74; J. D. A. Garman, 
1875-76; S.M. Hummel, 1877; J. Weirich, 1878-79-80; J. B. Daugherty, 1881; 
P. A. Bowman, 1 882 ; J. G. Fritz (resigned); H. Dissinger, 1 883 ; W. S. Dissinger, 
1884 ; W. H. Craumer, 1885 ; L. H. Kramer, 1 886-87-88 ; A. L. Shannon, 1889 
to October, 1890; J. G. W.Harold, 1 890-9 1 ; W. W. Fridinger, 1895-96-97; G. 
F. Bierman, Ph.D., 1898-99; I. N. Seldomridge, 1900; Charles Bauer, 1901 ; 
S. M. Hummel, 1902 to 1907; B. M. Breneman, 1907-08-09. 

This church was quite extensively repaired and beautified during the year 
1909, and the large congregation was rejoicing in the midst of its material and 
spiritual prosperity, when a sudden calamity came to it. The beautiful church was 
struck by lightning on the night of March 6, 1910, and destroyed, causing a loss of 
about $5,000. The building was insured to the amount of about half its value. 
The pastor, Rev. B. M. Breneman, writes, "It is certainly a mystery to us that 
such a strange providence has befallen us ; but we know that God is good and 
wise, and means it for our good. May it bring honor and glory to his name." 
These words breathe a hopeful spirit, and immediately after the fire arrange- 
ments were made by the smitten and devoted people to rebuild. Such hero- 
ism is worthy of 'commendation. Up from the ash-heaps there will arise in a 
short time a structure of greater beauty and with better facilities for work than 
the one that was destroyed. 

INTERCOURSE CHURCH. 

The origin of the church at Intercourse dates from 1 839. The first meetings 
were held in the Old Pond school-house, and sometimes at the residence of 
Charles Sweigart, an old house that stood in the rear of the residence of Mrs. 
Mary Ranck ; also in the homes of Mrs. Catherine Zook and David Ranck. The 
following is a list of the first members composing the class : Charles Sweigart, 
Polly Sweigart, Charlotte Miller, Polly Miller, John Miller, David Ranck, Christian 
Fink, Catherine Zook, John Church and Julia Church. This small class was 
for a short time a part of Mountville Circuit, and afterward became a part of 
Lancaster Circuit. The pastors who served this circuit also preached here up 
to the year 1875, when Intercourse Circuit was formed, consisting of Inter- 
course, Monterey, Soudersburg, Strasburg and Mt. Pleasant appointments. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 125 

In 1850 the lot upon which the new church now stands was procured 
from David Ranck, one of the charter members of this class. During the same 
year a brick church was built upon it, according to the plans and specifica- 
tions as prescribed in the following original document: 

"First. The trustees of the church are to find all the material in erecting 
and finishing the building, and they are to deliver it on the ground. 

"Second. The length of the house to be 35 feet, breadth 30 feet, the height 
of the story in the corners 1 2 feet from the floor up, the ceiling to be square- 

" Third. The foundation to be dug deep enough to make the building safe 
and secure, the foundation wall to be built with stone to the joist, and the joist to 
be clear of the surface of earth in the lowest part at least eight inches. The 
wall above the joist is to consist of brick, and the wall up to the square is to 
be 1 4 inches thick. The cornice is to be shaped with brick ; the gables above 
the square are to be built after the mode of brick buildings; and a central 
wall under the lower floor. 

"Fourth. The side walls of the house are to have three windows on each 
side, and one gable, two windows and two doors at one of the gables, three 
lights above each door, 10x12 inches, three feet wide, and two aisles, each 
three and one half feet wide, and a D window, central between the doors, 
fixed in the gable above the square, outside walls to be penciled and painted- 
Each window to have fifteen lights, each light 10x12 inches. 

"Fifth. The inside walls and ceiling of the house to be plastered. The 
pulpit and seats are to be made after the mode and fashion of the Roland 
(otherwise Zeltenreich's) Church. In addition, a sliding table to draw out from 
the pulpit, above the small door in the front side of the pulpit. And a 
mourners' bench in front of said pulpit in such way and manner as the trustees 
may direct. 

"Sixth. Two king posts to support the two girders ; and as many strips for 
to place hooks in for hanging clothes on, etc., as necessary ; and a flue in the 
centre of the house from the ceiling where the trustees may order, with a 
trap-door; and double shutters to all the windows. 

"Seventh. The pulpit, seats, sliding table, window-shutters, etc., etc., to be 
painted in such colours as the trustees may make choice of. 

"Eighth. The mechanic or mechanics are to board themselves during time 
of building said church. The mechanical work of said house shall and will 
be required by the trustees to be substantially made and finished from the 
foundation to the top and through and in the house, so far as lies in the art 
of a mechanic or mechanics. The house to be finished on or before the third 
day of December, Anno Domini 1850. 

"Given under our hands, at Intercourse, the 15th day of June, A.D. 1850. 

WILLIAM GIVEN 
DANIEL WEIDMAN 
AUGUSTUS RODGERS " 

In the year 1871 David Ranck set apart another plot of ground adjoining 
the church lot, and lying on the south side thereof, which he donated to the 



126 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



church. Other small additions to the church property were procured later until 
it assumed its present ample proportions. In the year 1871, chiefly by the 

active ex- 
ertions o f 
Rev. L.Pet- 
ers, who at 
that time 
was pre- 
siding eld- 
er , s u m- 
cient funds 
were rais- 
ed for the 
enlarge- 
ment of the 
old church. 
A new end 
was built to 
it, a num- 
ber of al- 
terations 
and some 
repairs 








•-•■-riffi nil . ■„■;„ 



I 



Inter 



Church 



made, a steeple with bell was placed upon the building, and the building 
itself was properly painted and finished. At this time Rev. M. J. Mumma 
was the pastor. 

In 1875 Intercourse Circuit was formed, and the following pastors served 
this church ever since : Revs. J. K. Fisher, 1875-76; J. D. Killian, 1877-78; 
J. S. Riddle, 1879; I. M. Groff, 1880; E. L. Hughes, 1881-82; J. N. Munden, 
1883; S.D.Faust, 1884; L. Peters, 1885; M. A. Salt, 1886-87; P. A. Bow- 
man, 1888; Z. C. Mower, 1889 to October, 1890; M. P. Sanders, 1890-91 ; 
S. G. Kauffman, 1892-93-94; H, M. Miller, 1895-96-97-98. In 1896, under 
the pastorate of Rev. H. M. Miller, the present beautiful church was erected. 
It is a brick structure, 30 x 50 feet in size, with a Sunday School room 1 6 x 24 
feet and a class room 12x12 feet attached. The building committee was 
composed of A. R. Kurtz, H. M. Miller, J. E. Zook, I. N. Parmer and J. M. 
Beam. W. H. Ziegler was the contractor and builder. It was dedicated to 
God by Rev. C. J. Kephart, D.D., December 20, 1896. Rev. Wm. Beach was 
the paster in 1 899, who was followed by Revs. Z. A. Weidler, 1 900 ; C. E. 
Boughter, 1901-02; Jas. Keene, 1903: George Renshaw, 1904; W. H. Boyer, 
1905-06; Clarence Mease, 1907; H. M. Klinger, 1908; Mark Wert, 1909. 

Under the pastorate of Rev. W. H. Boyer in 1896 the church had new 
memorial windows placed in it, was recarpeted, papered and painted, and 
provided with a new piano, all at a cost of $1,000. In 1909 electric lights 
were placed in the church at a cost of $65.00. The congregation is well or- 
ganized and is doing a good work under the pastorate of Rev. Mark Wert. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 127 



ELIZABETHTOWN CHURCH. 

The United Brethren congregation began its existence in this thriving 
town about the year 1852, but they had no church in which to hold services 
until 1853, when a small brick church, about 30x40 feet in size, located 
where the present new church stands, was bought from Abram Breneman. 
The church had been built by the Church of God in 1852 at a cost of about 
$1,200, and was dedicated as such in July of that year by Rev. John Wine- 
brenner. The lot upon which it was built was donated for church purposes 
by Abram Breneman, a charter member of that denomination who carried on 
a general store business in the town on the north-east corner of the square. 
For reasons not known to us Mr. Breneman had not given the deed of the lot 
to the church, and the church people failed to demand the deed, properly 
signed and delivered, before they erected the building. Not long after the 
dedication of the church the donor of the lot was brought before his brethren 
under serious charges. He was accused of committing some misdemeanors 
in connection with a spirited political contest of that time. He was pretty 
firmly dealt with by his brethren, and justly too, as they thought but unjustly 
according to the view of the defendant, and Mr. Breneman felt very much 
aggrieved because of their action in his case. He at once began to negotiate 
with Rev. David Gingerich, a member of our church and conference who 
lived near town, to sell the church property to him in behalf of the United 
Brethren Church. He offered to " sell the lot, the church and the congrega- 
tion " at a low figure. Mr. Breneman thought that the congregation would 
likely go with the church property, because they would hardly be able to 
build another new church at this time. In this he was mistaken. While Rev. 
Gingerich bought the lot and the church, the congregation worshiping there 
refused to enter into the deal, as was to be expected. While the Church of 
God never received any money from the sale of this property, the congrega- 
tion heroically built another new Bethel on South Main Street during the same 
year, which it still occupies. 

This property was bought for $700 in behalf of the following trustete 
and their successors in office for the Church of the United Brethren in Christ: 
Rev. David Gingerich, Rev. George Reider and Samuel Geyer. The date of 
the deed is May 28, 1853. The church was re-dedicated June 12, 1853. The 
church for years belonged to the following circuits : Mountville Circuit, Mount 
Joy Circuit and Spring Garden Circuit, whose pastors served this church with 
various degrees of success. In 1877 it was a mission station with Rev. J. W. 
Taylor as the pastor. When the writer became pastor of the charge in 1879, 
at the first quarterly conference the brethren desired to abandon Elizabeth- 
town, as the membership was very small and the support guaranteed from 
this point was hardly sufficiently large to pay a preacher's car-fare to and 
from the place in filling the appointments. The old church was also very 
much in need of repairs. In response to the writer's suggestion they decided 



128 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

to hold on to it another year. Faithful pastoral work at this point and the 
reorganization of a Sunday School marked the beginning of the turning of the 
tide toward success. This was the only appointment on the charge in his 
three year's service where a marked degree of success attended his labors, 
thus illustrating the truth of the saying that " Man's extremity is God's oppor- 
tunity.' ' In 1882, under the pastorate of Rev. J. L. Nicholas, the church was 
enovated and repaired at a cost of about $700. The money for this pur- 
pose was collected chiefly by William Baney. 

In 1 903 Elizabethtown was detached from Florin Circuit and constituted 
a station, and Rev. H. M. Miller, who had served Florin Circuit since 1 899, was 
assigned to the newly formed station. On Angust 1, 1901, Brother Miller 
started out to solicit subscriptions with a view of building a new church, and 
at a quarterly conference held in 1 902, the encouragement received war- 
ranted that body to decide definitely to build. Brother Miller was also au- 
thorized to continue to solicit funds for this purpose. 

The corner-stone of the new church was laid May 10, 1903, by Rev. H. 
M. Miller, assisted by Rev. D. D. Lowery, D.D., presiding elder of the con- 
ference, and Rev. J. B. Funk. The completed church was dedicated to the 
triune God on Sunday, December 20, 1903, by Rev. W. M. Bell, D.D., Gen- 
eral Home Missionary Secretary, assisted by the pastor. The weather was 
very inclement ; rain had fallen and the streets were very icy, making it dan- 
gerous to travel on foot. The church was erected at a cost of $1 1,600, and 
a considerable portion of this amount had yet to be secured to meet all the 
bills. Disappointments and discouragement greeted them on the morning of 
that memorable day as they looked upon the slippery pavements and streets 
over which they had to travel to the services. But the people came out re- 
markably well under the circumstances, and at all the services of the day 
$3,200 were secured for the church. Their gloom was turned to joy at these 
results. 

The building is a modern brick structure with two towers in front, one 
12x12 feet and the other 10x10 feet in size, and has a main auditorium 
45 x 46 feet, a Sunday School room 32 x 42 feet and a class room 15x30 feet 
in size. It is furnished with steam heat and electric light. The board of 
trustees and the building committee consisted of the following brethren : D. 

B. Shirk, G. R. Kersey, J. H. Stern, David Myers and B. H. Geyer, who with 
Annie Seiders, Simon Myers, H. H. Stern and Samuel Barnes also were the 
most liberal contributors toward this enterprise. Rev. H. M. Miller served this 
church eight years with great fidelity and success. He was followed by Rev. 

C. W. Miller from October, 1907, to October, 1909, under whom the parsonage 
adjoining the church was bought during the spring of 1909 for $3,100. Rev. 
S. S. Daugherty was appointed to this church at the conference of 1909, who is 
succeeding very well. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 129 



LANCASTER COVENANT CHURCH 

Lancaster, Pa., is the city of Mr. Otterbein's first pastorate in America, 
located only a few miles from the spiritual birthplace of the church. It is 
natural to expect that our church fathers would early strive to organize a 
society at this strategic point. In this county seat Mr. Newcomer, who had a 
sister living here, and whom he often visited, preached as early as August 15, 

1813, from Luke xviii : 29, 30, at Mr. Miller's; and again on November 13 

1814, from Matt, xv: 25, and a number of times afterward. He thus paved 
the way for the fathers to plant our church in this city at an early day, and 
make it a strong center for future operations. But for years they deliberately 
neglected their opportunity. The apostles of our Lord acted more wisely in 
pushing for the evangelism of the cities. Hence Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephe- 
sus, Corinth, Philippi and other cities early became centers of religious activ- 
ity and usefulness. The Lord had commanded his disciples to begin at the 
metropolis. The same command applies to his followers for all time. The 
city is and always has been the Gibraltar of civilization, the great center of 
influence for good or evil, and the church has for some years past been recog- 
nizing this fact and has been planning and working accordingly, but only 
after paying a high price for its education. 

The annual conference sent Rev. Wm. Brown to Lancaster Station in 1 834 
and 1835, and Rev. D. Strickler in 1836, both of whom preached in a "little 
white church," located on Chestnut street between Queen and Duke streets. 
After this no pastor was sent to this city for several years, but about the year 
1 848 or 1 849 the brethren again commenced to preach regularly in the same 
church. After a few years some difficulty arose and the appointment was 
abandoned. Soon after this Rev. John Winebrenner commenced to preach in 
this church, and when the congregation outgrew the building, it abandoned 
the little church and erected a new church on another site. Some of the 
worshipers refused to go to the new Bethel, and these continued to hold 
meetings in the old place. Now this small society became the nucleus of an 
organized United Brethren congregation. Rev. W. S. H. Keys became the 
pastor of this flock in 1854, who was followed by Rev. J. Q. Adams in 1855, 
and he prevailed upon " the seven brethren who now owned the building " 
to transfer the property to a board of trustees of the United Brethren Church. 
Rev. J. S. Kessler served as the pastor during 1856 and 1857. Rev. L. Peters 
served Lancaster Mission in 1858, 1859 and 1860. At the annual conference 
of 1 860 the following resolution was passed : " That Lancaster Mission be re- 
ferred to the stationing committee to be supplied or not as it may deem 
proper." The mission was left without a pastor, the city was abandoned by 
the church for a time, and the property was sold to pay debts. Another class 
was started a little later near the corner of Mulberry and Vine Streets, but this 
did not live long. Later still another congregation was organized and a small 
chapel built on the corner of Mulberry and Grant Streets. In 1 865 this ap- 



130 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

pointment was attached to Mountville Circuit, and Aaron W. Ranck was ap- 
pointed pastor by the presiding elder. This church was sold to the Evangeli- 
cal Association about the year 1867, who in turn sold it to the German 
Baptist Brethren, and now the site is occupied by a private dwelling. 

The position of the church on secret societies, and internal strife 
among the members were assigned at the time as the chief reasons for our 
failures in this city. These conditions, no doubt, were at the bottom of the 
trouble. And by this time, if not before, many of the church leaders began to 
think and to express themselves too, that our denomination was distinctly a 
rural church, and was not adapted to work successfully in the cities. They 
would point to our failures in Lancaster, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and in 
other cities, in proof of their assertions. The truthfulness of their statements 
at least in part could not be gainsaid, and our faithful pastors preached and 
worked for years in the country and smaller towns, with good results too, but 
they did very little toward obeying the specific and positive command of our 
Lord to preach the gospel " among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, the city." 
We have been guilty of reversing the process of the Lord's ordering, to our 
disadvantage and to the hurt of many souls whom we might have saved in 
these centers of population. Of course, the people living in the country dis- 
tricts needed salvation too, and our church was and still is a mighty saving 
agency among them. But our splendid success in evangelism and in the 
building of suitable churches in the numerous cities into which we have been 
pushing, especially during the last several decades, prove that we can work as 
successfully there in winning souls to Christ as any other denomination. 

There was nothing done to plant our church in Lancaster, except to talk 
about it, until the year 1882, when the annual conference in session at Harris- 
burg adopted the following resolution : " That Lancaster city as a home mis- 
sion field for our church offers splendid opportunities, and should be occu- 
pied immediately." It also appointed Rev. J. B. Funk, of New Holland, and 
Rev. M. J. Mumma, of Mountville, a committee to look over the field, and also 
voted $500 towards the beginning of operations in this city. 

As a result of this effort a quarterly conference was called March 20, 
1882, at S. R. GrabnTs house, 56 South Duke Street, where the following 
brethren were elected as members of a board of trustees : Amos Hershey, of 
Gordonville ; J. B. Stehman, of Mountville ; S. N. Eby, of Mount Joy ; Levi S. 
Reist, of Oregon ; and S. R. Grabill, of Lancaster. This board was instructed 
to secure a location for a church, to purchase a building, or a lot upon which 
to build a church, as they deemed best. These brethren tried to follow their 
instructions. They were told to buy the Salem church property on West 
Orange Street if it should be offered for sale at a reasonable price. The out- 
look at this time was not very bright, as the way seemed to be hedged up. 
At this time Rev. L. Peters moved into the city, at 1 35 East King Street, who 
agitated the importance of decided action at once in the interest of a church. 
Another quarterly conference was held at his house June 6, 1883. This body 
of men looked at a lot on Lime Street beyond Frederick. The brethren 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 131 

thought it would be a suitable location for a church, and forthwith started sub- 
scriptions with a view of making the purchase and of building a chapel. Rev. 
L. Peters was appointed pastor in charge and was authorized to take care of 
the subscriptions and collection of funds for the project. Nothing substantial 
resulted from these official acts. The next and final effort was made by S. R. 
Grabill, secretary of the board of trustees. This was business-like in its 
nature, coming from a business man, and was put in the form of a decisive 
proposition. He addressed the following letter to every member of the East 
Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Conferences : 

Lancaster, Pa., February 13, 1884. 
Dear Brother : 

For a number of years an effort has been made by friends and members of the United 
Brethren Church to establish a congregation in this city, near where the United Brethren Church 
was born. It is a standing shame, if not a sin, that there has not been a church home provided 
for our people who have moved here, and are constantly moving here, from adjoining charges. 
Of course some such find church relations among other denominations, but the majority do not 
and as a consequence are not only lost to the church but also to the blessed Master. Is this 
right? Is it as it should be? 

The annual conference at Harrisburg, 1882, made conditional provision to commence work 
at this place ; accordingly a quarterly conference was called and A. Hershey, of Gordonville ' 
S. N. Eby, of Mount Joy; Levi S. Reist, of Oregon; J. B. Stehman, of Mountville; and S. R' 
Grabill, of Lancaster, were elected as a board of trustees, with instructions to locate and build 
or purchase a church building as they see proper. The matter has been in this shape for two 
years and now an opportunity is presented in a good, rather central, desirable, fast improving 
part of the city. But in order to go ahead it will require help from abroad. This work, than 
which there is none more important in the conference, will not, cannot succeed, unless every 
charge in the entire conference feels an interest and considers itself a part of this work, which 
not only will be the means of leading the lost and erring to Christ, but become instrumental in 
saving those who are lost to the church and often lost to Jesus. 

At the coming conference in York, Pa., the Lancaster church interest will probably be 
presented for definite and final decision. If a systematic plan be proposed for securing a fund 
for this work, will you, if you can, consistent with your judgment, give it your thoughtful, 
prayerful support? 

(Signed) A. HERSHEY, President. 
(Signed) S. R. GRABILL, Secretary. 

The annual joint session of the conferences was held in York, Pa., Feb- 
ruary 27 to March 3, 1884, being thoroughly prepared in lieu of the above 
letter to act, which, after some historical prelude, it passed the following 
paper : 

In order to accomplish this (the establishment of a church) effectually and secure a 
financial basis against the failure we would recommend the following: 

1st. That the stationing committee supply Lancaster with a competent missionary and 
provide a liberal apportionment for his support. 

2a. That the commission to supervise missionary work pay special attention to this mis- 
sion, co-operating with the board of trustees in Lancaster and rendering them all possible 
assistance. 

3d. That the ministers and lay delegates of this conference hereby covenant to prosecute 
this work to a successful termination, and kindly receive and help forward any person properly 
authorized to solicit funds for the successful prosecution of this work. 



132 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



The recommendations of this report were provided for at this conference. 
An appropriation of $500 was voted to support this project, a strong preacher 
in Rev. M. J. Mumma was appointed to manage the forces, and the confer- 
ence territory in which to solicit was opened. The new year opened hope- 
fully. Rev. 1. Baltzell, presiding 
elder, held the first quarterly con- 
ference March 1 7, 1 884, the main 
object being the planting of the 
church. The purchase of the Salem 
church property was discussed 
again and the decision was reached 
to buy it. In view of this decision 
the board of trustees proceeded 
through a committee to make the 
purchase by paying $3,950 for it 
and the securing of a clear title. 
The church property was worth at 
least $7,000. Having secured a 
clear title S. R. Grabill paid $450 
purchase money, and a mortgage 
of $3,500 was given, the members 
of the trustee board making them- 
selves personally responsible for 
its validity. The church that they 
bought is located on West Orange 
Street and had been built under the 
auspices of the Church of God 
in 1877. It is a two-storied brick 
building in good condition. A church building now having been secured, 
the next work was to gather a congregation. 

A meeting for the organization of a class was called April 4, 1 884, by 
Rev. M. J. Mumma, pastor, at the home of S. R. Grabill. The following per- 
sons were enrolled as charter members: S. R. Grabill, Eliza C. Grabill, D. G. 
Good, Mrs. D. G. Cood, Maud Keen, Minnie Peters, Rev. L. Peters, H. H. 
Keen, George Eckert, and Julia Eckert. With these ten persons began a 
congregation that now numbers nearly seven hundred members. 

Much of the time of Rev. M. J. Mumma's pastorate, and of the first year 
of Rev. J. B. Funk's was spent in the field gathering in money to pay the debt, 
and with good success. The latter secured about $2,000 in one year to make 
it possible to dedicate the church, which was done on Sunday, February 6, 
1887, by Bishop J. Weaver, D.D. 

The name "Covenant" for the church was adopted because the founders 
of the denomination covenated together near this city to build up a spiritual 
organization, and because the trustees of the church and the annual confer- 
ence covenated together to make this church a success in Lancaster. 




Covenant Church 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 133 

A Sunday School Association was organized April 4, 1 884, the date of 
the organization of the church. The following were elected officers : Super- 
intendent, S. R. Grabill ; Assistant Superintendent, H. H. Keen ; Secretary, D. 
A. Peters ; Treasurer, D. G. Good ; Primary Superintendent, Mrs. S. R. Gra- 
bill. The first session of the school was attended by seven children and 
twenty-one adults, a total of twenty-eight. There were three persons in the 
Primary Department. The first year closed with an enrollment of 87; the 
second year, 117; the third, 157; the fourth, 187, with 60 in the Primary 
Department. In 1903 an annex was built to the church, with proper parti- 
tions as now arranged. The present enrollment of the school is 545, and S. 
R. Grabill served as its efficient superintendent during the first twenty-five 
years of its history. The present superintendent is E. W. Coble. The con- 
gregation and Sunday School are noted for their liberality to the cause of mis- 
sions, being far in advance of many others of greater financial strength. They 
support an associate pastor in the foreign field and do aggressive work along 
all lines of Christian activity. 

Rev. I. Moyer Hershey, the present pastor of the church, writes, " It re- 
quired nine years to get this church on a self-sustaining basis at a net cost to 
the annual conference of $2,439.75. During this interim the local church 
raised for all purposes, $8,622.88. During the twenty-five years of her history 
she has raised for all purposes, including purchase of parsonage, sextonage, 
building of annex and other improvements as well as $1,700 toward the pur- 
chase of Otterbein church property, $59,690. Of this amount $13,000 was 
contributed to the cause of Foreign Missions. The wisdom of planting a 
church in Lancaster is plainly attested by what it has done and is still doing 
for the cause of Christ. It has enjoyed many and continuous revivals in which 
very many souls were won to Christ, and a deep spirituality seems to prevade 
every department of her numerous activities. The following persons were 
raised up to the work of the ministry: W. F. Buck, I. N. Seldomridge, J. W. 
Sprecher, John F. Musselman and J. R. McDonald. Miss Ella Ruhl, an ex- 
cellent and consecrated lady, is giving her life for China, Among the sainted 
dead is Miss Beulah Funk. She was a member of this church for many years, 
but gave up her life for the sake of the Chinese. 

From April 5 to 11, 1909, the church enjoyed its quarto centennial an- 
niversary with appropriate services. The following is a list of the pastors 
who served Covenant Church: Revs. M. J. Mumma, 1884-85-86 ; J. B. Funk, 
1887-88-89; E. L. Hughes, from February, 1889, to October, 1889; C. W. 
Hutzler, 1 889-90-9 1 -92-93 ; E. A. G. Bossier, 1 893 to 1 907 ; A. R. Myers, from 
October, 1907, to May, 1908, who died here; C. E. Pilgrim, from May, 1908, 
to October, 1 908 ; I. Moyer Hershey, 1 908-09 . 

Otterbein Mission was founded by the Covenant Church. The first steps 
to consider the advisability of opening a mission were taken at a quartery 
conference, held October 14, 1 90 1 , by appointing a committee on location. 
After a number of reports on various places, the northern end of the city was 
selected as favorable by a vote of the Covenant quarterly conference, July 28, 



134 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

1 902. A house was rented at 820 North Queen Street in which to begin work. 
A Sunday School was organized Ssptember 6, 1 902, with an enrollment of 
thirty persons, J. B. Withers being elected superintendent. The property on 
the southeast corner North Queen and Clay Streets was bought toward the 
close of the year 1 903 for $3,042, and the school was moved to that place 
April 1, 1904. In a special effort at Covenant church $1,700 was subscribed 
toward the payment of the newly bought property. On October 4, 1904, 
Rev. J. B. Funk was appointed pastor, who at once entered vigorously upon 
the work in soliciting money and in an evangelistic campaign. On November 
27, 1904, Rev. E. A. G. Bossier, pastor of the Covenant church, organized the 
church with twenty-six charter members. In the evening of the same day, 
Rev. J. B. Funk received forty-two persons into church fellowship. The first 
year's pastorate closed with a membership of eighty-eight, and a Sunday- 
school enrollment of one hundred and seventy, October 5, 1905. 

During the year a chapel was built upon the lot at a cost of $3,721. It 
was dedicated to God on Sunday, November 26, 1905, by Presiding Elder D. 
D. Lowery, D.D., assisted by Revs. E. A. G. Bossier and J. B. Funk. At the 
annual conference of 1 906 Otterbein church was constituted a separate charge, 
and Rev. A. G. Nye was appointed as the pastor, who has been serving it ever 
since with great acceptability, building up the charge along material and 
spiritual lines with remarkable success. 

NEW HOLLAND CHURCH 

This town, first known as Earltown, later as New Design, and before the 
time of the Revolutionary war as New Holland, dates its beginning to the 
year 1 728. It is located on the Lancaster and Downingtown Railroad and on 
the New Holland Turnpike, thirteen miles east of Lancaster. The first preach- 
ing by the preachers of our church in this town was done by Rev. Christian 
Newcomer on Sunday, May 15, 1803, from II Peter 5:15. This service was 
held in an old log school house that had been built by the commuuity for 
school and church purposes, and was located on the Hinkletown road imme- 
diately at the rear of where Rutters store building stands. He says in his 
Journal, " The people praised the Lord and shouted as loud as they could. I 
lodged with Mr. Davis." 

Yes, they used to praise the Lord and shout a great deal years ago. It is 
a little out of fashion to do so now. Some do not believe in it. Do you 
believe the Bible? Have you searched the Scriptures on this subject? There 
was shouting when the world was created, when the Psalms were written and 
sung, when Christ was born in Bethlehem, and all along the line of march 
from Pentecost till now. There has been shouting on the rack, in prison, at 
the stake, on death beds, and there will be shouting when " the Lord himself 
shall descend from heaven with a shout, and with the voice of archangels, 
and with the trump of God." "Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion : 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 135 

for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee," is the command of 
God to us. You may shout if you shine. 

Mr. Newcomer preached in this town a number of times, and in the com- 
munity around it quite frequently. Others of our brethren also preached here 
occasionally. A regular appointment was taken up by the brethren who 
preached at Ranck's church, at the Western School House, 
located one mile west of town, in 1858. Rev. Samuel 
Seiders organized a class here during that year out of 
members of Ranck's church who had moved into town, 
and out of two other small societies, the one holding serv- 
ices at the home of Mary Good, and the other in a private 
house on Turkey Hill, near Mt. Tabor. Lewis Peters was 
elected the first leader of the class. This brother began 
his Christian career on this charge, having been converted 
at Ranck's church, and ended his long and fruitful minis- 
terial life while pastor of New Holland Charge, dying in . 

m Levi Hoover 

the parsonage in 1893. He filled some of the most im- 
portant and promising appointments of the conference. He served seven 
years as presiding elder, and twice he represented his conference in the gen- 
eral conference. He was a self-made man in every respect, was a recognized 
leader in the conference for years, was an earnest, active, persevering and 
conscientious laborer in the Lord's vineyard, winning many souls to Christ. 

Levi Hoover was the next class leader. This brother is one of the 
charter members of this church. He was also a charter member of our 
church in Ephrata, and in Russell, Kan., where he lived several years. He is 
related to the Hubers of the Rocky Spring and Chambersburg neighborhood. 
The original Hubers on coming to this country settled on a large tract of land 
a short distance west of New Holland, and some of them moved to Franklin 
County, near Chambersburg, over a century ago. Brother Hoover is still living 
and is quite active in the work of the church and is eighty-seven years of age. 
He scarcely ever misses a service at his church home. 

During the pastorate of Rev. Jacob Brewer, in 1859, quite a successful 
revival "was held in the Town Hall of New Holland, located on the northeast 
corner of the turnpike and the old Hinkletown road, in which many persons 
were won to Christ and brought into the church, and this work of grace gave 
promise of permanency to the society. In the Spring of 1 860 steps were taken 
toward the building of a church in town. At a quarterly conference the fol- 
lowing brethren were constituted a board of trustees: John Ranck, Samuel 
Bachman and Levi Hoover. Funds were solicited at once and the lot upon 
which the present church stands was bought of Cyrus Mentzer for $300. A 
plain brick church was started, 30 x 45 feet in size, and pushed to completion 
as rapidly as possible. The services incident to the corner-stone laying were 
held in Simon Mentzer's barn, connected with the farm upon which M. L. 
Groff now lives. On Sunday, September 9, 1 860, the church was dedicated 
to God by Rev. J. C. Smith, assisted by Rev. Z. A. Colestock, and the pastor, 



136 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

Rev. Jacob Brewer. During the winter of 1 872-73, under the pastorate of 
Rev. M. J. Mumma, the church was repainted, recarpeted, and a new altar 
rail was placed in it, all at a cost of $52 1 .63. The pastors of this church were 
the same as those who served at Ranck's church. 

Many precious services were held in this old church, resulting in the con- 
version of many souls. But the needs of the growing congregation demanded 
a larger and a better church. Early in the year 1 900, under the pastorate of 
Rev. J. G. Smoker, the church was practically rebuilt and an addition of 
22 x 39 feet was built at the southern end of the building. This addition in- 
creased the sitting capacity of the building to about 600. A tower entrance 
was built on the northwest corner, upon which a clear-sounding McShane bell 
was placed, which was bought from the trustees of our old church in Man- 
heim. The erection of this church required heroic and self-sacrificing effort 
upon the part of the pastor and people, as the membership was small in 
numbers and poor. The building committee, who pushed the work to its 
successful completion, consisted of Rev. J. G. Smoker, Levi Hoover and R. 
H. Wright. The lecture room of the church was opened for divine services 
by the pastor on Sunday, August 1 2, 1 900, and the completed church was 
dedicated to the triune God on Sunday, October 21, 1900, by Bishop E. B. 
Kephart, D.D., LL.D., assisted by Revs. J. S. Pitman, Z. A. Weidler and the 
pastor, Rev. J. G. Smoker. The cost of the church was $3,000, all of which 
was provided for on the day of dedication. The small sum of $200 was 
borrowed from the General Church Erection Society for a short time only, 
when it was paid back. 

A house for the parsonage was bought from George Harkey in 1 863. It 
was a small one-storied brick structure and stood where the present parsonage 
stands. In 1 864 a half story was built upon it, and the property was other- 
wise improved. The present parsonage was built in 1 890 under the pastorate 
of Rev. J. R. Meredith. 

The Sunday-school was organized in 1.861, with Levi Hoover as the first 
superintendent, who served in this capacity for a period of twenty years. 
Rev. I. M. Groff and A. H. Bear also served as superintendents of the school 
for many years. The present incumbent is W. W. Stauffer. An organ was 
bought for the school in 1 887 for $1 35. Two other organs have been bought 
since then, all of which are in use in the various departments of service. 

In the spring of 1879 one acre and twenty-four perches of land was 
bought at the rear of the church from Solomon Diller for $525. This land is 
being used for burial purposes. In the spring of 1 908 an additional plot of 
ground, located west of the church and adjoining it, was bought from J. Frank 
Brubaker for $500, which provides room for the further expansion of the 
church work as may be necessary. 

During the week of June 5-12, 1910, the church celebrated its semi-cen- 
tennial anniversary with appropriate services. The following ministers, all of 
them former pastors of the church, preached with great acceptability: Revs. 
J. B. Funk, C. A. Mutch, E. L. Hughes, Z. A. Weidler, S. C Enck, D.D., and 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 137 

T. Garland. A. H. Bear, who was superintendent of the Sunday-school for 
many years, delivered an address on "The History of the Sunday-school.' ' 
Levi Hoover, the only living charter member of the local church, spoke on 
" Reminiscences of Fifty Years." These services throughout were inspirational 
in their character and will long be remembered by all who attended them. 

COLUMBIA CHURCH 

The history of our denomination in Columbia covers a period of more 
than sixty years. In 1 846 several United Brethren families moved into this 
town, those of Christian Hershey and Solomon VonNieda. For a time they 
attended services in our church in Mountville, and in the sister churches in 
Columbia. Other brethren and sisters gradually commenced to move into 
the town, and these together formed the nucleus for a church. They were 
visited at different times by local itinerating preachers and pastors from 
neighboring charges, who preached in private houses to such as would 
attend. In 1 848-5 1 the services were held in the house of Christian Hershey. 
In 1852-53 Rev. P. J. Riland and Rev. C. G. Geist preached here regularly, 
alternating every two weeks. Revs. John Fohl, J. W. Bonewell and D. O. Far- 
rell preached here in 1854-55; D. Strickler and Jacob Brewer in 1856-57, 
chiefly in the homes of Christian Hershey and David Wayne. Under the 
faithful labors of the last two preachers the first United Brethren class was 
organized in this town, with the following as its charter members : Christian 
Hershey, leader ; D. C. Wayne, steward ; Elizabeth Hershey, Sarah Wayne, 
Catherine Hoffman, John Reinhart, H. Lewars, Susan Hoffman, Mary Wayne, 
Henry Fordney, Mary Lewis, Martha Lewars, J. C. Meldram, Elizabeth Mel- 
dram and Lovina Fordney. 

In 1858-59 Rev. Christian Kauffman and Rev, Joseph Young began 
preaching in a school house on Third Street near Perry, near the place where 
our first church was erected. The building still stands and is used as a 
private dwelling. The meeting in 1858 resulted in a great revival, in which 
many persons were won to Christ, and among them were the following who 
united with the church: Francis Pelen, James Gohn, Martha Feilis, William 
Dickey, Emma Fisher, Anna Stambach, Benj. Souders, Isabella Adair, Anna 
Maul, Mary Miller, Abraham Kauffman, Henry Feilis, Mary Bigley, C. F. 
Gohn, Louisa Reuter, James Mullin, Minerva Sourbeer, Mary Balsley, 
Sarah Delta, Harrison Hinkle, Joanna Sourbeer, Anna Benney, Eliza- 
beth Hershey, Sarah C. Souders, and Kate Hoffman. A number of others 
were renewed and reinstated as members. In November, 1 859, forty-seven 
more converts were received into the church. Thus in a few years a strong 
congregation was gathered together in this town, even before it had a church 
to worship in. 

In 1860 the Columbia appointment was constituted a station, with Rev. 
J. A. Scott as its pastor. During this year a church, about 30 x 40 feet in size, 
was built on the corner of Third and Perry Streets. The trustees at this time 



138 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



were Christian Hershey, Jonas Garber and David Wayne. The corner-stone 
was laid on Sunday, July 1 , 1 860, at 2.00 P. M., by Rev. W. B. Raber, and the 
completed church was dedicated on Sunday, November 11,1 860, by Bishop 

J. J. Glossbrenner, D.D. It was a plain 
square structure, comfortably but 
plainly furnished, and was erected by 
Jacob Sneath, contractor, who was 
so long a most active and useful mem- 
ber of this congregation, a superin- 
tendent of the Sunday-school for 
many years, and who has two sons 
in active ministerial work. He died 
only about two years ago. 

Rev. J. A. Scott did not get along 
very well with the congregation. He 
served it only one year and then left 
the conference and church and joined 
the Baptists. 

Rev. L. Peters served as pastor 
here in 1861, and possibly in 1862 ; 
G. W. M. Rigor, who for many years 
was a presiding elder and a promi- 
nent worker in the conference, was 
the pastor in 1863-64-65. This was 
the time of the civil war, and the con- 
gregation suffered greatly because so 
many of the male members went into the army, some of whom never re- 
turned. In 1866-67, Mountville, Stehman's and Chestnut Hill were attached 
to Columbia, and Revs. W. S. H. Keys and Abraham Kauffman served as 
pastors. During the years 1 868-69, Rev. W. S. H. Keys served the Columbia 
church. He was a preacher of rare ability, an excellent pulpit orator and a 
profound reasoner. During his administration the church made rapid pro- 
gress. He was followed by Rev. George Wagoner in 1870, 
six months, and Rev. H. V. Mohn, six months. Rev. M. J. 
Mumma served in 1871-72; Rev. J. W. Geiger, 1873-74-75; 
Rev. W. D. Mower, 1876-77-78. Rev. C. S. Meily, a man of 
ripe scholarship and fine preaching ability, was the next 
pastor in 1879-80-81-82, quitting during the last year on ac- 
count of ill health. He died of the cancer on December 1 8, 
1 882, while yet a young man. His unexpired term was filled 
by Revs. S. G. Merrick and J. C. Smith. Rev. J. B. Funk 
served as pastor in 1 883-84. In 1885 Rev. C. D. Harp was 
appointed the pastor. Under him a new church was built on 
the site that it now occupies. The congregation had suffered 
up to this time because of an unfavorable location of its church, and now it 




Columbia Church, Old 




Jacob Sneath 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 139 

began to realize the pressing need of a new church at a more central location. 
There were two sites considered, one on Locust street just below Fifth, and 
the other on the corner of Fifth street and Alley H. The latter site was 
selected, and it proved to be a wise selection. On April 3, 1885, the site was 
bought from Mrs. Mehl for $1,200 and an Erection Society was organized at 
once in the local church for the purpose of raising funds for the new building. 
During the month of May the ground was broken, and the new project was 
begun. It was a big undertaking for the small congregation at that time, but 
its devoted members trusted in God and went forward. 

At this time there was a mission chapel on South Fifth street, owned by 
Samuel Schock, which the trustees were trying to buy with a view of using the 
material in the same for the erection of the new church. The purchase was 
about to be made, when the owner, out of the goodness of his heart, made 
the following proposition to the brethren : " That if the new church be named 
Salome U. B. Church, in honor and in memory of his departed mother, whose 
name was Salome, he would give the chapel as a donation." This proposi- 
tion was thankfully and cheerfully received. It was a valuable gift, gener- 
ously bestowed. The chapel, including the pews and all the furniture, was 
estimated at a valuation of $6,800. 

The corner-stone of the new church was laid August 4, 1 886. The old 
church property was sold April 27, 1887, for the sum of $1,300. The new 
two-storied brick church, 62 x 48 feet in size, was pushed toward completion 
as rapidly as possible by Jacob Sneath, the contractor, who had built the first 
church. On Sunday, October 9, 1887, the church was dedicated to Almighty 
God by Bishop E. B. Kephart, D.D., LL.D., who preached a remarkably able 
sermon from Matt. 16: 18, 'And upon this rock I will build my church, and 
the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The bishop preached again at 
3.15 P. M., and Rev. J. W. Etter, D.D., preached at the evening service from 
the text, " In my Father's house are many mansions." The day was beautiful 
and all the services were well attended. The total cost of the church was 
$12,542.55. Of this sum $1 1,042.55 had been provided for, leaving a bal- 
ance still unprovided for of $1,500. The total amount in cash and subscrip- 
tions was secured during the day. 

The church is well equipped in every way for splendid service in the 
Master's kingdom. It has a large pipe organ, built by the M. P. Moller Organ 
Co., of Hagerstown, Md., the first church that was thus provided in our de- 
nomination in this section of the state. The building committee consisted of 
J. C. Klingbeil, Aaron Dyer, T. S. White, Uriah Sourbeer, D. K. Rettew and 
Rev. C. D. Harp, and the principal contributors and benefactors were Col. 
Samuel Schock, Jacob Sneath, W. A. King, Aaron Dyer, J. C. Klingbeil and T. 
S. White. 

Rev. C. D. Harp worked hard during this period, and served as pastor 
here three years. Rev. E. Ludwig was appointed in 1 888, and served six 
years, under whom the debt on the church was wiped out. He was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. A. A. Long, in 1893, who, as the fruits of great revival dur- 



140 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



ing his first year's pastorate, added 250 members to the church. It became 
necessary to enlarge the church building. On March 8, 1894, the property 

on Walnut Street was bought of Mrs. 
Anna Smith for $1,850, and on March 
1 7th the building of the annex was 
started. In August the church was 
reopened, having been refurnished, 
provided with steam heat, carpeted 
and papered, and chairs placed in 
the lecture and class rooms at a cost 
of $3,201.30, which, with the cost of 
the Walnut Street property, $1,850, 
made a total cost of $5,051.30. At 
this time $3,700 of this amount was 
paid in cash, leaving, however, a debt 
balance on the church of $4,200. A 
mortgage was then placed on the 
church for $2,000, and the remaining 
$2,200 was borrowed from the First 
National Bank on the individual names 
of the trustees of the church. The 
debt was gradually reduced and at 
1898, the entire debt still 




Columbia Church, New 

the close of Rev. Long's pastorate in October 
remaining amounted to $2,950. 

At the annual conference of 1 898, Rev. S. C. Enck, D.D., was sent to 
Columbia, and he has served the church as its pastor continuously from that 
date until now with great fidelity and with much success, proving that long 
pastorates are often very necessary for the greatest material and spiritual de- 
velopment of a charge. In the fall of 1 809, by a long, hard pull, and a pull 
together upon the part of pastor and people, the entire debt on the church 
property, costing $1 7,593.85, was wiped out, and the mortgage burned. As 
the pastor took the mortgage out of his pocket at the church services, he said, 
" This is the fellow I have been after for sixteen months and I have captured 
him at last. And now to make sure of him let us send him up in smoke." 
The document was placed upon a large platter and the fire was applied by 
the pastor, while the great congregation of six hundred souls arose and sang 
with a mighty voice, " Praise God, from whom all blessings flow," as the 
flames ate up the legal paper. At this time the pastor received a purse con- 
taining $50, from the hands of S. P. Black, as an expression of appreciation 
from the congregation for his splendid services among them. 

In 1901 the parsonage, located at 123 North Fourth Street, having all the 
modern conveniences, was bought at a cost of $3,750. The present member- 
ship of the church is 619, and is one of the most aggressive congregations in 
the conference. The congregation is looking'* toward greater ^victories for 
Christ, instead of sitting down in complacency ^to ^enjoy its past success. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



141 



Only recently another property adjoining the church was bought for $4,700, 
with a view of a larger expansion of the work. The Columbia church is 
"forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those 
things which are before." 



SHISSLER'S— NEFFSVILLE CHURCH 

This church is the direct product of the meetings held at Isaac Long's, 
the beginnings of which date back nearly one hundred and fifty years. From 
1766 to 1815 the preaching services were held alternately at Isaac's Long's 
and John Long's. From 1 8 1 5 to 1 865 the services were held at Joseph 
Long's, a grandson of John Long's. In 1 865 
the frame meeting-house, known as Shiss- 
ler's church, 35 x 40 feet in size, was built 
at a lonely place one mile northeast of Isaac 
Long's farm, and one mile north of Neffs- 
ville. The membership here gradually de- 
creased in number until there were only 
twelve left, the preaching became less fre- 
quent, and the building and graveyard 
fence were sadly in need of repairs. 

Some one may ask why the United 
Brethren became so weak in the Isaac 
Long neighborhood. Levi S. Reist, whose 
wife was a great-granddaughter of Isaac 
Long's, answers this inquiry in a letter to 
the annual conference of 1887. He says, 
" The brethren started out a little unde- 
nominational, and that spirit exists more 
or less to-day. At this time there are two 
sisters living, both upwards of eighty years 
of age, who were never taken up, as they used to say. Also there were three 
other sisters who died within the last ten years who were good members, but 
who had never been ta\en up, or formally received into the church. Rev. 
Joseph Long, a local preacher of high standing as a Christian and a good 
United Brother, was at the same time a Freiheits man," that is to say, a man of 
liberal spirit as to formally uniting with the church. It is very clear to us 
that a Christian ought to join a church for the help it is to himself to be in 
the company of those who are trying to live the Christian life. He should 
join the church because it is the institution that is preaching Christ to the 
world and trying to save it, and the Christian should desire, above everything, 
to help preach Christ to his own countrymen and all the world. Above all 
things else, he should join the church because the evil of the world is so great > 
and is so strongly organized, that it requires the organized effort of all good 
people not only to withstand it, but to banish it from the world. It always 




Mr. and Mrs. Levi S. Reist 



142 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



seems to us that it is as strange for a Christian to remain outside of the church* 
which is the republic, the country of the soul, as for a good man living in the 
United States to stand aloof from his country and not become a citizen of it. 
In the spring of 1 886 Shissler's church was torn down under the pastorate 
of Rev. G. A. Loose, and much of the lumber used in its construction was used in 

the erection of a new church, 35 x50 feet 
in size, in the center of the village of Neffs- 
ville, on a lot that had been bought for 
$500. The trustees of the church at this 
time were Levi S. Reist, A. S. Ilyus, who 
was a relative of the late Rev. J. G. Clair, 
H. F. Hostetter, who was the son-in-law 
of Levi S. Reist, and Andrew L. Lane, who 
was the grandson of Rev. Joseph Long, all 
men of good reputation and wide influ- 
eenc. Under the supervision of these men 
the new church was erected. Mr. Reist 
spent considerable time in soliciting funds 
at home and abroad to make the building 
of this church a possibility. The corner- 
stone was laid on Sunday afternoon of 
October 24, 1 886, by Rev. J. F. Mower. 
Neffsville Church On Whitsunday, May 29, 1887, the 

one hundred and twenty-first anniversary of the great meeting in the 
historic Isaac Long barn, the church was dedicated to God by Bishop J. 
Weaver, D.D., as the " Long Memorial United Brethren Church." There was 
a great gathering of people assembled on that occasion, and the bishop was 
at his best in the delivery of his sermon from I Tim. 3 : 16," Received up into 
glory." The bishop was assisted by Revs. G. W. M. Rigor, I. Baltzell, M. A. 
Salt, J. G. Dissinger, J. B. Funk, G. W. Lightner, T. Garland, L. R. Kramer 
and S. R. Gipple. 

There were enough members living in and near Neffsville to reorganize 
the class, and prosperity attended the efforts of the pastors and congregation 
in the building up of the material and spiritual interests of the church, espec- 
ially during the last eight years under the faithful pastorate of Rev. S. S. 
Daugherty, who served Lititz charge, to which this church belongs. During 
the year 1 904 the church was thoroughly repaired and beautified at a cost of 
$2,464.50, all of which has been paid. It was reconsecrated on Sunday, Feb- 
ruary 28, 1904, by the writer, assisted by Revs. E. A. G. Bossier and S. S. 
Daugherty, the pastor. During the past winter quite a number of persons 
were converted to God and added to the church under the pastorate of Rev. 
Jas. E. Keene. 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 143 



MOUNT JOY CHURCH 

There was preaching in this thriving town by the United Brethren 
preachers as early as 1 829. Revs. John Neidig, Jacob Roop, Felix Light, 
John Light and Casper Light, were accustomed to preach here in what was 
known as the Old Bell schoolhouse, which was used as a preaching place by 
a number of ministers of different denominations before they had churches 
of their own. In 1 860 a class was organized here with George Geyer as the 
leader, who conducted class-meetings and prayer-meetings for a number of 
years. In 1865-66 Rev. L. Peters, who was then preaching on Lancaster Cir- 
cuit, took up a Sunday afternoon appointment in the Lutheran church in the 
town, and this prepared the way for the erection of a house of worship. At 
a quarterly conference held on the circuit in the month of February, 1867, 
the following brethren were appointed to look into the matter and report at 
the next quarterly meeting : George Geyer, Samuel S. Royer and Samuel 
Strickler. At a quarterly meeting held in the Florin church May 25, 1867, 
this committee reported that a lot, centrally located in Mount Joy, could be 
bought of Henry Eberly for $450, and that they had secured subscriptions to 
the amount of $2,700 toward the purchase of a lot and the building of a 
church. Then the following brethren were constituted a board of trustees : 
George Geyer, Samuel S. Royer, George Eby, John Miller and John Shroff. 
On May 27, 1 867, the trustees met at John Miller's home and agreed to make 
an earnest effort to build a church. They also appointed George Geyer to 
purchase the lot offered for sale by Henry Eberly. After the lot had been 
purchased it was agreed to build a two-storied brick church, 38 x 60 feet in 
size. George Eby and John Booth were then appointed to visit the church at 
McKey's Half Falls, the architectural style of which was to be patterned after 
in the church that was to be built here, and to see a contractor. It was further 
agreed that the front wall of the church was to be eighteen inches thick to 
the roof, and walled up with pilasters, and a suitable steeple was also to be 
built upon it. John Hallowell did the mason work, and John Booth did the 
carpenter work on the building. The first story was to be ten feet clear to 
the ceiling, and the second was to be sixteen feet clear. The corner-stone 
was laid July 28, 1867, by Revs. E. Light and W. S. H. Keys, and the com- 
pleted church was dedicated to God January 19, 1868, by Bishop J. J. Gloss- 
brenner, D.D., assisted by Revs. E. Light, John Stehman, I. Carpenter, W. B. 
Evers and H. E. Hackman. The church was built under the pastorate of 
Revs. W. B. Evers and H. E. Hackman, at a cost of $7,000, $5,000 of which 
was raised on or before the day of dedication, and the remainder was paid in 
1875 under the pastorate of Rev. J. W. Etter, D.D., at which time the interior 
of the church was refitted at considerable expense. 

Rev. D. O. Farrell served as pastor of the circuit to which this church be- 
longed in 1868-69; J. C. Mumma, 1870-71. At the annual conference held 
in Mountville, March 8, 1871, Mount Joy was constituted a station with 



144 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



Strickler's church attached, and Rev. John Fohl was appointed pastor, who 

served it one year. 
The following pastors 
served the church 
since then : Revs. J. 
R.Meredith, 1872-73- 
74 ; J. W. Etter, D.D., 
1875-76; J.K.Fisher, 
1877-78; M.P.Doyle, 
1879-80; G. W. M. 
Rigor, 188 1-82. Broth- 
er Rigor entered the 
active ministry within 
the bounds of the 
Allegheny Confer- 
ence in 1854, came 
into the East Penn- 
sylvania Conference 
in 1 862, since which 
time he has served 
some of its leading 
charges. He was a 
presiding elder for ten 
years, for a time edi- 
tor of the Itinerant 
three times a delegate 
to the general confer- 
ence, and twenty-five 

years secretary of the annual conference. About 3,000 souls were converted 

to God under his ministry, and about 2,500 persons were received by him 

nto the church. He was one of the active promoters 

of Lebanon Valley College and one of its first trustees. 

He was a strenuous and successful worker. He fell 

asleep in Jesus July 9, 1 906, to awake at the dawn of 

the morning. 

The following were the successors of Brother 

Rigor in the Mount Joy church : Revs. J. W. Etter, 

D.D., 1883-84; J. T. Shaffer, 1885-86; D. D. Lowery, 

D.D., 1887-88; H. C. Philips, 1889-90-91-92 to Octo- 
ber, 1893; J. A. Lyter, D.D., 1893-94-95 : H. F. Mc- 

Nelly, 1896-97-98; J. M. Shelly, 1899-00-01 ; H. C. 

Philips, 1902; I. E. Runk, 1903-04-05; E.O. Burtner, 

1 906-07 ; J. B. Rittgers, 1 908-09 — . An old unoccupied Rev. G. W. M. Rigor 

house owned by the church stood where the parsonage now stands. The 




Mount Joy Church 




UNITED IB RETHREN CHURCH 



145 



brethren learned that some objectionable people thought of moving steathily into 
it, whom it might be difficult to persuade 
to move out when once in. To make 
it uninhabitable some of the brethren 
went into it one night and tore up the 
floors, cut out the partitions and other- 
wise despoiled it. Shortly after this in 
1878, the building was torn down and 
the present parsonage was built at a cost 
of $2,500, under the pastorate of Rev. 
J. K. Fisher. 

The church property has been ex- 
tensively remodeled and improved in the 
recent years, changing the outward ap- 
pearance of the church in the removal 
of the steeple and fences, and in the 
erection of a long, roofed porch along 
the front of the parsonage. The con- 
gregation has also enjoyed some gra- 
cious revivals in the recent years, 
thus greatly strengthening the church. 
A large men's class and a flourishing 
Sunday School are doing good work here. Rev. D. D. Lowery, D.D. 




EPHRATA CHURCH 

Ephrata is one of the thriving towns of the county, in which there is a 
strong United Brethren congregation. In the spring of 1871, while Rev. M. 
J. Mumma was pastor of New Holland charge, which at that time consisted of 
six congregations as follows : Soudersburg, Monterey, Ranck's, New Holland, 
Intercourse and Hinkletown, he was called here to visit and preach in the 
home of Burton Keener. Mr. Keener's son, Cyrus, a young man, was ill with 
consumption. In course of time the sick young man professed conversion, 
was baptized and received into the church. He died in the faith in August 
of 1871. 

By this time there was quite a strong desire for more frequent and regular 
services, but there was no place in which to hold stated meetings, and but 
poor prospects for the organization of a congregation, as there were only three 
members of our denomination residing in the town, who were identified with 
Ranck's appointment. They were Mrs. Burton Keener, and Mr. and Mrs. 
William Sprecher. In the spring of 1872, at a quarterly meeting, John R. 
Boyer, of Hinkletown, Levi Hoover, of near New Holland, and William 
Sprecher, of Ephrata, were constituted a board of trustees to undertake the 
building of a church in this town. On March 23, 1872, a lot was purchased 
on West Main Street for $500. The boundaries of this lot were found to be 
of such a nature that a suitable church edifice could not be erected upon it, 



146 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



and this site was abandoned. A part of this ground is now occupied by the 
Kurtz cash grocery, a part by the Athletic Association and another part by the 
H. C. Gemperling building. The present site on Church Street was purchased 
June 3, 1872, and at a meeting of the board of trustees held June 24, 1872, it 
was decided to build a brick church, 32 x 48 feet in size. At that time the 
only church within the present limits of the borough was Trinity Lutheran 
church, which had been built in 1 869. The corner-stone of the new church 
was laid July 28, 1872, by Rev. W. S. H. Keys, D.D. The services on this 
occasion were held in the orchard of Martin Gross, located on the southwest 
corner of West Main and Church Streets. The church was dedicated to God 

on Sunday, December 2, 1872, by Rev. L. 
Peters, presiding elder. Immediately after 
this special services were held for the ben- 
efit of the unsaved, which were continued 
several weeks. At the close of these serv- 
ices the church was organized with thirty- 
six members, some of whom are promi- 
nent citizens of the town to-day. A Sun- 
day School was also started at this time, 
but was discontinued for want of patronage 
until 1876, when it was reorganized, with 
J. J. Yeager, Sr., as the superintendent, and 
has been continued ever since. John V. 
Snader was one of its superintendents, who 
served for a period of about twenty years. 
H. H. Singer is the present incumbent. 

This church was connected with New 
Holland charge three years. Later it was 
connected with other appointments and for 
P rata urc several years it was a mission. At the con- 

ference of 1 889 it was constituted a station. Up to this year the church was 
served by the following pastors : M. J. Mumma, 1872 ; M. J. Mumma and J. 
H. Groff, 1873-74; J. F. Mower, 1875-76; S. R. Grabill, 1877; 1. Carpenter, 
1878: P. A. Bowman, 1879-80-81-82-83; M. A. Salt, 1884; L.R.Kramer, 
1885-86-87-88 to October, 1889; J.Francis Smith, 1889-90-91. Under the 
last named pastor the congregation probably passed through its busiest years. 
During this period the parsonage was built by the side of the church, and a 
new church was shortly after built on the site of the old one. It is a two- 
storied brick building, 44 x 70 feet in size, with a gallery in the auditorium on 
the second floor. It is seated with Dayton opera chairs, and has a sitting ca- 
pacity of 500, including the gallery. The first floor is divided into two parts 
and these are for Sunday School and other department work. The cost of 
the building as it was then was $5,600, $2,684 of which had been paid upon 
it before the day of dedication. It was dedicated to God December 4, 1 892, 
by Bishop N. Castle, D.D., assisted by Rev. H. B. Dohner, D.D., and Rev. J. 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



147 



G. W. Herold, the pastor. The following pastors were in attendance : Revs. 
J. F. Smith, L. R. Kramer, L. Peters, I. M. Groff, C G. F. Miller and D. S. 
Eshelman. On the dedication day $ 1 ,800 was secured for the church and 
$700 was assumed by the trustees. The total valuation of the parsonage and 
church at this time was $9,000, and the last dollar of indebtedness on it was 
paid in 1906 under the pastorate of Rev. C. E. Boughter. 

Since 1 89 1 the following pastors served this church : Revs. J. G. W. 
Herold, 1892-93; A. L. Shannon, 1894-95; U. S. G. Renn, 1896-97-98-99; 
M. J. Mumma, 1900-01-02 ; C. E. Boughter, 1903 to 1909— The church has 
enjoyed some gracious revivals in the recent years, greatly strengthening its 
forces for good, under the long and faithful pastorial labors of Rev. C. E. 
Boughter, who has served this congregation since 1903. Extensive improve- 
ments to the property have been made under him at a cost of $2,000, all of 
which have been paid. 

In September, 1 899, the work in Denver was instituted under the pastorate 
of Rev. U. S. G. Renn, who saw an opportunity in that growing town for our 
church, and he was not slow in embracing it. His efforts were owned of the 
Lord and during the following year a church was built there at a cost of 
$5,000, under the pastorate of Rev. S. L. Rhoads. 

STEHMAN'S CHURCH 



This church is located two and one-half miles southwest of Millersville, 
in the southern part of the county, and belongs to Manor Circuit. Sixty years 
ago there was no church in this community within a radius of many miles, but 
preaching services had been held at a number of places. The Evangelical 
Association preached where Peter Baker and 
Frank Rummel now reside. The Methodists 
preached in the residence of Isaac Hess; also in 
that of Christian Herr, but they were in the 
habit of locking the doors against all but their 
members at their class-meetings. This was not 
popular in the community. Christian Herr, be- 
coming acquainted with our church and its open 
door policy, invited our preachers to preach 
here. They came and preached here as early as 
1 836 in various private residences. At the home 
of Reuben Kauffman, John Stehman and his 
wife were converted to God, and this event gave 
the work of our church a good start, which event- 
ually resulted in the formation of a pastoral 
charge. In 1857 Brother Stehman built the 
church which is known as " Stehman's Memorial Church," and he also was 
the chief promoter and support in the erection of the church at Highville in 
1868. Stehman's church was rebuilt in a more commodious and substantial 




John Stehman 



148 



LANDMARK HISTORY 



Renn, 1887; J. F. Smith, 
1892-93-94; S. G. Kauff- 
H. H. Romig, 1902-03; 



form in 1895, under the pastorate of Rev. S. G. Kauffman. For years this 
church belonged to Mountville Circuit, and the pastors who served that cir- 
cuit also preached here. 

Since 1876 the following preachers served this church: Revs. A. H. 
Kauffman, 1876-77-78-79; M. P.Sanders, 1880-81 ; G. W. Lightner, 1882-83; 
J. D. Freed, 1 884-85 ; H. H. Mower, 1 886 ; U. S. G. 
1888; William Beach, 1889-90-91 ; N. A. Kiracofe, 
man. 1895-96-97-98-99-00; M. E. Bachman, 1901 ; 
H. J. Behney, 1904-05 ; H. M. Trautman, 1906-07; John Ohmacht, 1908-09- 

Rev. John Stehman and his devoted wife were the principal projectors of 
our church life in this community. They were a very earnest and pious couple, 
meriting the confidence of all who knew them, and thoroughly devoted to the 
cause of the Master. Brother Stehman was licensed to preach in 1 842, at 
Funk's Academy, Dauphin County, Bishop J. Erb presiding. He was ordained 
at Florin in 1846, by Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner, D.D. "In the early days of 
his ministry, and up to the time when the infirmities of age began to settle 
upon him, he abounded in the work of the Lord, traveling extensively 
throughout the conference. Wherever he was known, his name was a 
synonym of piety. He was one of the first persons in the United Brethren 
Church to contribute liberally of his means to the cause of missions, and 
always stood among the foremost in sustaining the interests of the Church he 
loved so well. He delighted in referring to that fact, that in obedience to 
his ordination vows, he had upheld the itinerant plan. He was the faithful 
friend and earnest supporter of the itinerant preacher." Truly it may be said 
of him, " He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith." He 
fell asleep in Jesus at the residence of his son, John B. Stehman, Mountville, 
June 4, 1887, aged 85 years, 10 months and 19 days. 




CHAPTER III 




YORK COUNTY— FIRST PREACHERS AND PREACHING PLACES— THE CONFER- 
ENCE AT SPANGLER'S— YORK CIRCUIT— THE CAMP MEETING AT LEWIS 
HARTMAN'S-CHURCHES : WINTERSTOWN— ZION— FIRST CHURCH, 
YORK— DALLASTOWN--ROHLER'S UNION— SPRINGET- ST. PAUL- 
MANCHESTER— JERUSALEM — MT. WOLF — SPRY- 
RED LION— SECOND CHURCH, YORK— THIRD 
CHURCH, YORK— DILLSBURG— ETC. 

ORK County was formed out of a part of Lancaster county 
August 1 9, 1 849. It then included Adams county, which 
was formed out of York county January 20, 1 800. Its 
first white settlers were chiefly Germans and Scotch-Irish, 
the latter locating in the southeastern portion of the county. 
The hills of Newberry were found by the Quakers, who 
obtained free grants of land from the Penns on which to build their meet- 
ing-houses. One of these is still standing in the village of Newberry, one 
near Lewisberry and one near Wellsville. The vast body of the early settlers 
were Germans, and their first settlements were made on Kreutz Creek and in 
the neighborhood of where Hanover now stands. 

Within this county our early preachers found good soil for their evangel- 
istic work, and they took advantage of their opportunities as well as they 
could. They preached mostly in the German language. The first United 
Brethren preacher who preached in this county of which we have any record 
was Rev. Christian Newcomer, the pioneer of pioneers in leading the way in 
the planting of our churches in so many places. On the 29th of April, 1 797, 
he preached in Blymyer's Union Church, located one mile south of Dallas- 
town. His text on this occasion is found in Luke 17: 13, 14, 15, and he 
says in his Journal that " the people were very attentive." In the afternoon 
of the same day he preached in Frey's (Freysville) Church, located three 
miles northeast of Dallastown. Here he preached from I Peter 4 : 7. He 
says of this effort that " the Word seemed to take effect ; several persons burst 
forth into tears." He must have preached a good sermon to effect so tend- 
erly the hearts of his hearers. Blymyer's and Freysville churches are used 
by the Lutherans and German Reformed people, and were founded in 1 748 
and 1771 respectively. Shortly after the congregation at Blymyer's was or- 

149 



150 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

ganized, a small log house for church services and school purposes was built. 
The pastor served also as teacher of the school. It was then the only church 
for a large extent of territory. It is said that some of its members who wor- 
shiped here over a century ago, came a distance of from twelve to fourteen 
miles. The present brick church is the third building on this site. Among 
the first German Reformed clergymen to serve this church was Rev. William 
Otterbein, who preached here occasionally while pastor in York. 

Mr. Newcomer's visit to this section of the country as well as his sermon 
may by some be looked upon as a matter of only ordinary importance and 
scarcely deserving of a passing notice ; but we should remember 

" That large streams from little fountains flow, 
Tall trees from little acorns grow." 

His first visit was followed by other visits here and to other places in the 
county, and paved the way also for his successors in the field. Martin Boehm 
also preached a sermon in an open field in York, which tradition reports as 
having been delivered in what was long known as " The Commons," now 
as Penn Park. It is said that " a great many people attended this service." 
When this sermon was delivered is not definitely known, but it must have 
been either before Mr. Newcomer's visit to Blymyer's Church or shortly after, 
as Peter Senseny, " who walked about the grounds having his legs ensconced 
within a pair of large riding boots and spurs,'' dated his conviction of sin to 
some remarks that Mr. Boehm made on this occasion, and that led him to 
seek the Lord. His conversion must have occurred sometime prior to 1801, 
as at the annual conference of that year he is recorded as being a member of 
that body, and at the conference of 1 803, " Peter Senseny, Ludwig Duckwald 
and John Neidig were given permission to baptize and administer the Lord's 
supper, with all that pertains thereto." Mr. Boehm, in expiating on the wick- 
edness of the times, exclaimed, " Some persons are going to hell with boots 
and spurs." These particular words entered Mr. Senseny's ears with impres- 
sive force, and reverberated in his mind until he shortly after sought the Lord 
and obtained a change of heart. 

Mr. Newcomer also preached in the Pigeon Hill Church on June 5, 1 799, 
"with considerable liberty," and on June 9, 1 799, at Jacob Rohler's; again at 
York on November 24, 1 799, he preached a funeral sermon, and on the 
previous night he lodged with George Conn, who later became a prominent 
and useful member of our First Church in that city. He lived on George 
Street and at this time was a member of the Methodist Church. He was a 
good man and was always highly spoken of even to this day. He donated his 
grandfather's clock to adorn the parsonage, and gave to the trustees of the 
church $1,000 as a sacred fund, the interest of which is to be used forever in 
support of the local church work. He died January 6, 1877, at the age of 93 
years, 9 months and 27 days. On December 10, 1802, Mr. Newcomer 
preached again at York, this time " in the Methodist meeting-house," where 
he had considerable liberty to speak. He says, " The people presently got 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



151 




loud and clapped their hands in such a manner that my voice could scarcely 
be heard; some of them shouted for joy, and my poor soul rejoiced with 
them. I went home with Weyerly Bentz and 
lodged with him." Weyerly Bentz lived on the 
farm east of Highland Park and adjoining it. He 
was a near relative to Mrs. M. L. Duhling, of Man- 
chester, whose maiden name was Bentz. Mr. New- 
comer often lodged with him and sometimes 
preached in his house. This meeting-house is the 
property that our people bought of the Methodists 
in 1 840, and was the predecessor of our present 
First Church in this city. Little did Mr. Newcomer 
then think that this unpretentious building was des- 
tined to become a United Brethren Church, and a 
center of evangelistic power in the denomination, George Conn 

of which he was one of its early promoters. He often preached here for the 
Methodists, and incidentally refers again and again to the glorious meetings 
that they had. Mayor D. K. Noel, of York, in an article published in the 
papers some years ago, in reference to the great meetings held here in those 
early days, said that " they sang and shouted that they could be easily heard 
on George Street," which was fully three blocks away. Mr. Newcomer also 
preached in the York County Court House occasionally, at Altland's school 
house, at John Bull's, near Weigle's Church ; at Lewisberry, at Naylor's, near 
Weiglestown; at Henry Diesman's, at Lewis Haney's, near Winterstown ; at 
Liverpool (now Manchester), at Strasburg, and at other places, where as the 
work was taken up and carried on by his successors we now have flourishing 
congregations. We are not able to say definitely who these successors were. 
We know this, however, that at David Snyder's, in Cumberland County, Mar- 
tin Boehn and Christopher Grosh were appointed to " arrange the work of 
the preachers in Pennsylvania, so as best to glorify God, benefit their hearers, 
and the building up of the church." Under the leadership of these brethren 
York County was not neglected, considering the limited number of ministers 
that they had under their charge. 

Early in the eighteenth century the visits of our preachers to this county 
became more frequent, but very irregular for a period of about twenty years. 
There were no pastoral charges formed as yet in the county and the preach- 
ing was done by brethren who happened to come into this section. Revs. 
John Neidig, the two Crums, the two Browns, and Henry Hiestand were 
among them. 

The services in those early days were mostly held in private houses and 
school houses, which were not large and generally built of logs. But many 
gracious revivals were held in these primitive buildings. The school houses 
were generally dingy looking places, with their low ceilings, rude benches, 
smoked walls, and the whole lit up with half a dozen tallow dips. As for the 
congregation in revival time, it seemed as though the whole neighborhood for 



152 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

miles around had poured out and crowded into the school house. The 
preacher had barely room to stand at the desk or table and preach the Word. 
While he preached the hearty " amens " of the brethren and sisters mingled 
with the sobbing and weeping of the penitents showed that hearts were being 
moved by the divine Spirit. When the invitation for penitents was given they 
would come crowding their way to the " mourners' bench." In those days the 
preacher did not invite the members to come forward around the altar. They 
were there already. Where else could they be, for every foot of ground was 
occupied. They sang, and prayed, and shouted until the old school house 
was lit up with divine glory. Some of our old people who still linger on the 
shores of time love to speak of those old school house revivals, which are so 
many bright spots in their memories. Now the commodious and beautiful 
church has supplanted the old school house, and we should appreciate the 
change. The facilities for the holding of religious services have been wonder- 
fully improved in the passing years, and we ought to be a very godly and de- 
vout people and intensely aggressive in every good work. With these better 
facilities, larger and better equipment and ampler opportunities come in- 
creased responsibility. A lawyer made some remarks to us some years ago 
when speaking of a church of which he claimed to be a member, which 
greatly impressed us. He said: "We have an elegant church edifice, with 
stained glass and cushioned pews ; we have a large, wealthy and influential 
congregation, a large pipe organ, a splendid choir, a learned and eloquent 
preacher, who preaches two sermons every Sunday and lectures during the 
week. Yes, we've plenty of church, but not much religion." How true ! Paul 
writes to Timothy concerning the " perilous times " to come, when he writes 
that men shall be selfish, covetous, proud, disobedient, unholy, heady, high- 
minded, " lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God ; having the form of 
godliness, but denying the power thereof." Our early fathers tried to promote 
true spiritual life among the people, and their successors, to be worthy of the 
name, are commissioned of God to perpetuate the work they commenced. 

Several conferences were held among the brethren in the early years " to 
consider in what manner they might be more useful." The first of these was 
held in Mr. Otterbein's parsonage in Baltimore, Md., in 1 789, and the second 
was held in Paradise Township, York County, in 1 79 1 , at the house of John 
Spangler, who was the grandfather of Mrs. D. W. Crider, of York. This 
Spangler dwelling was located about eight miles west of York, was about 
25 x 35 feet in size, and although it was probably one hundred and fifty years 
old, it remained standing as an old landmark until only a few years ago. 
John Spangler was a large land-owner, a substantial citizen and was deeply 
in sympathy with the revival movement. In church connection he and his 
family were German Reformed, but they had been swept in with the current 
of the great revival, and they gladly opened their doors to a conference of 
ministers who were to counsel with one another how best to promote the 
work begun by them. What a gathering that conference was ! The follow- 
ing preachers were in attendance : Revs. William Otterbein, Martin Boehm, 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



153 




G. A. Geeting, Christian Newcomer, John Ernst, J. G. Pfrimmer, John Neidig, 
Benedict Sanders and Adam Lehman. It meant much for these fathers to 
come distances which required many days 
of hard travel to be present at this meeting. 
The following brethren were, for various 
reasons, prevented from attending : Revs. 
Henry Weidner, Henry Baker, Martin 
Crider, F. Shaffer, Christopher Grosh, A. 
Troxal, Christian Crum, G. Fortenbach, D. 
Strickler, J. Hershey, Simon Herr, J. Hantz 
and Benjamin Swope. Thus we find that 
twenty-two names constituted the list of 
ministers in the church at this time. The 
business of the conference was soon at- 
tended tO, and much of the time Was Spent Spangler's House 

in preaching, exhorting, singing, praying and relating their Christian exper- 
ience. After mature deliberations as to how they might labor most usefully 
in the vineyard of the Lord, they again appointed as fellow-laborers such as 
they had come to believe had experienced true religion in their souls. No 
formal conference was again held until the year 1 800, when it met at Peter 
Kemp's, the ministers meanwhile preaching here and there according to plans 
agreed upon at the various great meetings. The appointment at Spangler's 
was kept up as a regular preaching place until November 5, 1827, the occa- 
sion of Mr. Newcomer's last visit. 

The preachers for years traveled their charges without any very definite 
boundary lines to them, such as were made later under the careful delibera- 
tions of a regular boundary committee. The old charges were almost bound- 
less in their scope. 



YORK CIRCUIT 



The first charge in the county that was constituted by the annual confer- 
ence with definite bcundary lines was known as "York Circuit." It was 
formed at the annual conference of 1824, and Rev. John Brown was ap- 
pointed as its first pastor, who served it three years. Father John Strayer, of 
near Winterstown, who died only a few years ago as the oldest member of 
this circuit, and who was possibly longer a member of the church than any 
other person in the county, outlined the boundary lines of this old charge to 
me as follows : "Beginning at Wormleysburg, opposite Harrisburg, up the 
valley to Carlisle, then across the mountain into Perry county, then back into 
the Cumberland valley, up as far as Chambersburg, then across two moun- 
tains, taking in Path and Horse Valleys, back again out of the valley to Green- 
castle and Hagerstown, Md., across another mountain to Frederick, Md., then 
eastward through Adams county, then through York county to the place of begin- 
ning." Just how many hundred miles a preacher would have to travel to 



154 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

make one round on this circuit, we could not now say ; but those who know 
the lines or route, as above given, need not be told that it was large enough 
to satisfy the most ambitious circuit rider of those primitive or of these modern 
times. The preachers on this circuit were expected to preach every evening 
during the week and two or three times on Sunday, and often once or twice 
during week-days. They were expected to adapt themselves to an almost 
infinite variety of exposure and toil, and yet they lived, rejoiced in their 
labors in the Lord and enjoyed a moderate share of health. Rev. John Brown 
and his successors on this large charge were no mere novices in the pulpit. 
They found time for study, meditation and prayer. They were men of fine 
pulpit ability. Their Bibles were their daily companions, and they read and 
studied them as they rode their horses and as they sat at the humble firesides 
of their people. They were men of one book and they familiarized them- 
selves with its precious contents. 

This old circuit shrunk in its dimensions from year to year as other pas- 
toral charges were formed out of it. But for many years it was a large field. 
In 1 848, when Revs. S. Enterline and W. B. Raber traveled it the following is a 
list of its appointments : Ehrhart's Paper Mill, Jacob Allison's, Jacob Se- 
christ's, Heindel's, John Gabel's, John Sechrist's, Zion Church, Seitz's, Steffey's, 
Beecher's, Bachman's, Thomas', Meckley's, Zech's, John Spatz's, John Daugh- 
erty's, Littlestown, Green's Church, P. B. Hoffman's Paper Mill, "Mud Col- 
lege,'' and Winterstown. 

The second pastor of York Circuit was Rev. John Kroch or Grogg, who 
was appointed in 1827, and who traveled it two years. To the first two 
pastors of this circuit the church is much indebted for laying broad and deep 
the foundations of a strong and prosperous community of United Brethren in 
the southeastern section of this county, where we now have eleven churches 
and as many thriving congregations within three and one-half miles from 
Dallastown as a center. 

During the first year of Brother Kroch's pastorate a camp-meeting was 
held in Lewis Hartman's grove, located about two miles southwest of Dallas- 
town. It commenced in the middle of August, 1827, and lasted one week. 
Revs. Christian Newcomer, John Brown, John Snyder and John Kroch were 
possibly the only ministers who attended it, and who did the preaching. 
Some of the people of the community behaved themselves very badly at this 
meeting, but it was a great success in the salvation of souls. During the night 
some of the stoves were upset or carried away some distance ; some of the 
stove plates were stolen and other things on the grounds were disarranged. 
These particulars we secured from Mrs. Lydia Spatz, a daughter of Lewis 
Hartman, who had tented with her parents at this meeting when she was 
nineteen years of age. She died a few years ago when quite old. Rev. 
Samuel Huber, in his Autobiography, relates the following as having occurred 
at this camp-meeting and as it was told him by Mr. Newcomer himself: "At 
one time during the continuance of the camp, the wicked threatened to storm 
the camp in the night. Toward evening they began to collect in great crowds, 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



155 



armed with bludgeons and other offensive weapons, making great threats and 
menaces against the tent-holders. Amongst the professors of religion on 
the grounds might have been seen those who make great pretentions to faith 
and trust in Providence when no danger was near ; there were also some 
praying people whose trust and faith in a superintending Providence became 
strengthened in time of danger. These, seeing the camp surrounded and 
threatened in this hostile manner, betook themselves to prayer, looking to the 
Lord for help." 

"Toward evening, just about the time the Amalekites were preparing for 
the assault, dark clouds were seen slowly rising above the horizon ; thunders 
were heard rolling in the distance ; piles of clouds, swiftly propelled forward 
by an invisible force, came rolling over each other and obscured the heavens 
from view ; palpable darkness covered the camp ; and then, as if a match had 
been applied to a fiery element, peals of thunder shot forth from the clouds 
above ; immense flashes of lightning glared throughout the camp ; meteors, 
like large fire-balls, falling from the zenith to the earth, and carried by a 
mighty whirlwind, rolled and flew to and fro over the ground, and over the 
people, and through some of the tents, and went far off into the woods. It 
appeared as if the battlements of heaven had opened, sending its elements 
down in successive streams of fire. The scene lasted over one hour, during 
which time the wicked became so much alarmed that by rapid movements 
they cleared themselves from the ground. After this phenomenon had sub- 
sided, and no one was hurt by it, the meeting went on without further dis- 
turbance." 

As Mr. Newcomer was leaving the ground, and while on his way to York, 
some persons said to him : "You can now see that your camp-meetings are 
wrong, and God sent his fire among your people to destroy the camp." But 
Mr. Newcomber replied : "God was our guard and sent his thunder and 

lightning to prevent the wicked from doing us 

injury." This seemed to be the truth in the 

case. 

Mrs. Lydia Spatz said that a number of 

those who had come to disturb the meetings 

found shelter in a large tent during the 

storm. This tent was used that night in the 

holding of services, and here some of them 

gave their hearts and lives to God. The 

converts who were won to Christ at this meet- 
ing, and those of previous years, became the 

nucleus of the United Brethren Church in this 

section of the county. 

Under the preaching of the Word of God 

at this camp-meeting the Lord found an open Rev. John Haney 

door to the heart of John Haney, who afterward became an active and most 

useful minister of the gospel. After the camp-meeting had ended he 




156 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

continued to seek the Lord at home in his father's house, near Winters- 
town, and after a long struggle he experienced the joys of salvation. 
Up to this time John Haney belonged to the German Reformed Church. 
John Strayer and Adam Strayer, of this neighborhood, were also converted 
to God at about this time. They were members of the Lutheran Church. 
After Mr. Haney's experience of saving grace he commenced to hold prayer- 
meetings in his father's house and in the houses of his neighbors, which 
the Strayers and many others attended. These meetings were seasons of 
refreshing from the presence of the Lord and through them many souls 
were won to Christ. But these services also stirred up a spirit of opposition 
and persecution, which came chiefly from the formal church members of 
the community, as well as from some outside elements. The first person that 
was converted at these meetings was Andrew Haney, John Haney's oldest 
brother. All this occurred in 1827. 

WINTERSTOWN CHURCH 

In 1 828 the persecutions of these " prayer-meeting people," coming from 
the unspiritual elements in the churches to which quite a number of the con- 
verts belonged, became so intolerable that they withdrew from them, and they 
with others, invited Rev. John Kroch to organize them into a United Brethren 
class or church, which he did. The following are the charter members of 
this church : John Haney, leader; Lewis Haney and his wife, Peter Haney 
and his wife, John Strayer and his wife, and their four daughters ; Christiana 
Strayer, who afterward married Isaac Hershey ; Lydia Strayer, who married 
Henry Fry, Polly Strayer, who married Daniel Swords, Eliza Strayer, who 
married Jacob Shires ; Adam Strayer and his wife, and their two daughters ; 
Widow Winters and her two daughters, and Jacob Crumbling. This church 
has enjoyed a continuous and prosperous existence up to the present time, 
and is known as the Winterstown Church. These particulars we received in 
the main from David Strayer, of near Winterstown, who personally knew 
every preacher on this old circuit from Mr. Brown's pastorate up to 1 900, 
whose father was a charter member of this church. Letters from Rev. John 
Haney, in the writer's possession, confirm the facts as here given. This brother 
was very useful in his long, active ministry, dying in Marion, Minn., Novem- 
bers, 1904, at the age of ninety-seven years, six months and twenty-eight days. 

Revs. John Brown and John Kroch were both strong men, accomplishing 
great things for God and were well liked by the people. The Pennsylvania 
Germans pronounced Kroch's name Grogg. An old toper in the community, 
being asked which of the two preachers he liked best, replied promptly, "I 
like Grogg the best." 

In 1 828, under the pastorate of Rev. John Kroch, another camp-meeting was 
held on Lewis Haney's land. There were only eight tents, but there were 
many conversions reported. In 1 829 another meeting was held on Adam 
Strayer's land. Here there were thirty tents and some conversions were also 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



157 



reported. T It is said that Rev. Benjamin Speck, the father of Rev. D. Speck, 
"conducted the first camp-meeting held by the church." There were two 
preachers, Revs. Benjamin Speck and John R. Evans, and two tents. At this 
camp-meeting there were sixty conversions. Rev. John Eckstein, who en- 
joyed the reputation of being a sweet singer, was the pastor of the circuit 
at this time. Other camp-meetings were held in this community, which were 
no great 
affairs, a s 
manymod- 
e r n out- 
door gath- 
erings are 
called, but 
which were 
a great suc- 
cess in one 
particular 
at least, in 
thatof win- 
ning souls 
to Christ. 
These 
me etings 
resulted in 
adding 
strength to 

the V^/in- Winteistown Old Church 

terstown congregation. The members of our church in Winterstown and 
community continued to worship for many years in the houses and barns of 
the Haneys, Strayers, Flinchbaughs, Grimms and others. They also wor- 
shiped in Stabley's or Zion Church, which was built in 1 843, but this was 
located about three miles away. There are still some persons living here who 
tell the story of their conversion in the great meetings that were held in one 
or other of these old houses or barns. In 1 868 our people here decided to 
build a house of worship. A board of trustees was chosen as follows: John 
Strayer, A. E. Fulton and Granville Jackson. The site selected for the church 
was the old Householder burying ground. Alongside of this graveyard they 
bought an additional plot of ground from John Breneman for $25. The date 
of the deed is November 28, 1 868. Rev. Peter Corl was then pastor of the 
circuit, and under his leadership a brick church was erected at a cost of about 
$2,000. The corner-stone was laid by Rev. John Sand, and the church was 
dedicated to God November 29, 1868, by Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner, D.D., as- 
sisted by Rev. W. B. Raber. 

The boundary lines of the circuit to which Winterstown belonged were 




158 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

often changed. In 1 884 Winterstown, Mt. Olivet, Zion, Union and Pleasant 
Grove were formed into Winterstown Circuit. Some time after this Red 
Lion was added to the circuit. Since then Union became what is now Wind- 
sor Station. Red Lion also became a station, and Adamsville was added to 
Winterstown Circuit. The charge is now composed of five churches, as fol- 
lows: Winterstown, Zion, Mt. Olivet, Pleasant Grove and Adamsville, and is 
known as Red Lion Circuit. 

The old church, repaired, enlarged and improved as it was from time to 
time, at last had served its day. It became necessary to erect a new and 
larger building. Early in 1 898 the pastor, Rev. D. R. Wagner, by the help of 
his devoted people, named the following committee: W. L. Mitzel, J. E. Zel- 
lers, D. D. Grove, Frank Breneman and Oscar Grove, to decide on a site for 
the new church. They decided that the new church should be located on the 
main road leading from York toward Baltimore. The site they selected is a 
beautiful, elevated spot on the west side of the road, opposite the old Mitzel 
homestead at the northern end of Winterstown. On March 9, 1 908, ground 
was broken by the pastor following a short religious service. The corner- 
stone was laid June 1 4, 1 908, by Rev. W. H. Washinger, D.D., presiding 
elder of the conference, assisted by Revs. D. R. Wagner, A. R. Ayers, L. Walter 
Lutz, E. L. Hughes, of our church, and Rev. J. H. Maice, of the United Evangelical 
Church. The following are the trustees who so nobly co-operated with the 
pastor in bringing the new church edifice to such a happy completion : Elias 
Grimm, F. M. Breneman, J. E. Zellers, W. L. Mitzel, W. O. Grove, and D. G- 
Grove. 

The new church is a model in every respect. It is built of red shale 
brick, with white mortar and white concrete trimming. The large tower is 
fifty-six feet high, with stone coping, and contains a fine McShane bell. The 
auditorium is 36 x 40 feet, with inclined floor, pulpit recess, choir loft and 
semi-circular pews. The Sunday School room is 25x35 feet, with rolling 
partition. All the windows are of leaded glass, two of them being 9x18 feet 
in size. The building is heated with a furnace, and well lighted with gas. It 
is one of the finest and most commodious country churches for the money in 
the state. The entire cost of the church was $9,048.79, all of which was se- 
cured prior to and at the dedication services except $980.16, which was 
assumed by the trustees. It was dedicated to God on Sunday, April 25, 1909, 
by Rev. W. H. Washinger, D.D., assisted by Revs. J. A. Shettel, E. L. Hughes, 
L. W. Lutz, A. N. Horn, J. E. Kleffman, D.D., of our church, and Rev. R. S. 
Edris, of Red Lion German Reformed Church. 

The church membership numbers eighty-nine. The congregation is rich 
in the Master's work, but poor in this world's goods with several exceptions. 
They abound in hospitality and in faith. It is a great victory for this small 
membership with the aid of their friends to achieve. The first revival cam- 
paign that was held in the new church was a great victory for God and the 
congregation, in the conversion of 1 1 9 souls and in nearly as many accessions 
to the church. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



159 



The following is a list of the pastors of York Circuit, including the Win- 
terstown Church, from 1 824 to 1 884, covering a period of sixty years : 
Revs. John 
Brown, 
1 824-25- 
26; John 
K r o c h , 
1827 -28; 
John Eck- 
stein, 1829; 
James Nei- 
m a n and 
John Han- 
ey, 1830; 
Jacob Erb, 
(?) 1831; 
George 
Hussey, 
18 3 2; 
Christian 
S c h o p p , 
1833; Ja- 
cob Fel- 
mole and 
John Rath- 
fang, 1834; 
George 
Miller and 
Jacob 
R o o p , 
1835; Geo. 
Miller, 
1836; John 

Ha n e y, Winterstown New Church 

1837-38; Adam Noon, 1839; Jacob Scholler and John Heltzel, 1840; 
Samuel Seiders, 1841 ; Jacob Winger, 1842; C. S. Crider, 1843; C. S. Crider 
and William Wagner, 1844; William Wagner, 1845 ; Samuel Enterline, 1846- 
47; Samuel Enterline and W. B. Raber, 1848 ; George Schneider and T. F- 
Hallowell, 1849; George Schneider and F. Grimm, 1850; F. Grimm and I. 
Coombs, 1851 ; Tobias Crider, 1852; H. Greenblade and A. Tripner, 1853; 
N. Altman, a converted Jew, 1854; J. Cline and J. W. Burd, 1855 ; F. Grimm 
and H. Brown, 1856-5 7; J. S. Wentz and J. B. Jones, 1858: J. S. Wentz, 1859- 
60; H. Brown and J. G. Clair, 1861; S. Enterline, 1862-63-64-65; W. H. 
Craumer and John F. Smith, 1866; J. H. Young, 1867; Peter Corl, 1868-69; 
Peter Corl and A. H. Rice, 1870; John Garman, 1871 ; A. Tripner, 1872-73 ; 




160 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

W. H. Craumer, 1874-75-76-77; G. W. Lightner, 1878-79-80-81 ; L. Kohr, 

1882; L. Kohr and A. Dunkleberger, 1883-84. 

At the conference of 1884, Winterstown Circuit was formed, and the 
following pastors have served Winterstown Church since that time : Revs. J. 
C. Smith, 1884: L. Kohr, 1885; G. W. Kiracofe, 1886-87; William Hesse, 

1 888, who resigned and J. B. Jones and D. Barshinger served it that year ; 
William Quigley, 1891; J. T. Knapp, 1892: W. H. Young, 1893-94; J. W. 
Grimm, 1895-96-97; J. W. Houseman, 1898; W. M. Quigley, 1899-00; J. A. 
Shettel, 1901-02-03-04-05; D.R.Wagner, 1906-07-08-09—. 

STABLEY'S CHURCH 

Winterstown class is the oldest class in the county. Stabley's or Zion 
Church is the first church that our people built in the county. Before the 
church was erected here our people worshiped in private houses, at Adam 
Stabley's, who lived a few hundred yards west of where the church stands ; 
also at John Smiegh's, and at the Grimms'. The church was built in 1843 on 
Adam Stabley's land, principally by Mr. Stabley himself and his neighbors. 
After the church was completed the following brethren were elected trustees 
of the church October 23, 1843: Frederick Grove, Levi Neff and Charles 
Neff. At this conference it was decided to name it "Zion Church." The lot, 
containing 107 perches, with the church upon it, was then bought by these 
trustees June 1, 1844, for the sum of $2.00. The church was a frame build- 
ing and was dedicated to God by Rev. John Russell, presiding elder. 

During the summer of 1881 this church was torn down and a new one 
was built in its place under the pastorate of Rev. G. W. Lightner. The pastor 
drew the plans for the new building and superintended its erection. It was 
built of the best material and has a slate roof. It was dedicated to God Sep- 
tember 11, 1 88 1 , by Rev. D. D. DeLong, D.D., President of Lebanon Valley 
College, assisted by Rev. C. T. Stearn, D.D., and Rev. E. Light. During the year 
1895, the church was thoroughly repaired, repainted inside and outside, fur- 
nished with new carpet, lamps and pulpit. A tower seventy feet high was 
also built to its front, and a good bell was placed upon it, all at a cost of 
$600. Rev. J. W. Grimm was the pastor then. The church was reopened 
November 10, 1895, by Rev. C. A. Burtner, Ph.D., presiding elder, assisted by 
the pastor. 

A small log parsonage was also built by the side of the church about the 
year 1850. It was very small and had a very low ceiling, so low that when 
one of the preachers moved into it he had to saw a part of the legs of his 
bedsteads off to enable him to set them up. It was torn down some years 
ago, and the pastors of the charge now live in Red Lion. 

Many of the fathers of this church have gone to their long home and 
their remains lie buried in the adjoining graveyard, but their descendants are 
still with us and are filled with the same zeal and piety that made their 
fathers the heroes of their day. No one man among them all, however, stands 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 161 

forth so prominently as does Rev. Frederick Flinchbaugh, whose long and 
useful life merits more than a mere allusion. He worshiped at the Union 
Lutheran and German Reformed Church, located several miles east of Zion 
Church, and was a member of one of these congregations. He led the sing- 
ing in this church for many years, and all who knew him called him a Chris- 
tian, as Christians were rated in the neighborhood. Nor was he of a differ- 
ent opinion. He did try hard to be good. He enjoyed the confidence of 
his preacher and of his fellow church-members, as his life among them was 
above reproach. 

But something happened and the Spirit of the Lord arrested him in his 
career. It was the custom in the community to have corn-husking parties, 
after the corn had been gathered in from the fields. On such occasions the 
neighbors were usually invited to spend an evening at the husking, and after 
a certain amount of work had been done, a great supper would be ready, 
when all the huskers would be invited to partake before leaving for their 
homes. To such a husking Mr. Flinchbaugh went. He failed to get to the 
first table. While waiting for his turn a party in an adjoining room were 
making merry with a violin. He listened for a while, but he became uneasy, 
and moved by some impulse that seemed almost irresistable, he left and 
went home. He could not sleep that night. The music of that "fiddle" 
and the merry-making noises of the people were in his ears all night. He 
arose in the morning with a feeling of sadness. And yet he could hardly tell 
why he was depressed. He had often been present before when such music 
and enjoyments were had. An arrow had pierced his heart, and he knew it 
not as of the Lord. Soon after this a violent disease broke out in his family, 
and in a short time carried two of his children to the grave. He now became 
greatly concerned for the salvation of his soul. For many years he had been 
" fore-singer" (leader of song) in his church, was a member of it in good 
standing, but he had great unrest within. How to find rest he knew not, nor 
was there any one in all the neighborhood, not even his pastor, who could 
give him the proper counsel at this time. He earnestly sought God in prayer 
for direction and deliverance. After a long struggle he was led into the 
glorious liberty of the people of God. His conversion was clear and power- 
ful. This was so new in his community, and to him so satisfying, that he felt 
a strong motive within him to tell his neighbors and friends about it. When 
by himself working in the fields he would tell the story of his salvation to im- 
aginary audiences. Thus the spirit of God was gradually leading him into 
the Christian ministry. He began his work with the holding of prayer-meet- 
ings, where he took the liberty to read a portion of scripture and give an ex- 
hortation. Invitations for such services in the houses of his neighbors showed 
that his work was taking effect. His heart-stirring words on these occasions 
revealed the nature of the pent-up fires in his own heart. Having gained con- 
fidence in himself and God, he gave the gospel trumpet no uncertain sound. 
He knew everybody in the community. The evil ways and the godless lives 
of the people were no secret to him. He laid bare their wickedness, held up 



162 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



their sins before their eyes and exhorted them with all tenderness of heart 
and often with his eyes streaming with tears, to repent and turn to Christ for 
salvation. 

"Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, 
And fools who came to scoff, remained to pray." 

The results of these earnest and faithful efforts were soon apparent. The 
Haneys, the Strayers, the Stableys, the Smieghs, the Grimms, and many others 
were converted to God, and identified themselves with the revival movement. 
These prayer-meetings, which were an unexpected innovation on the 
settled methods of the neighborhood, were held form house to house, and the 
walking of a distance of from two to six miles to these gatherings was a mat- 
ter only to be lightly considered. "Brother 
Flinchbaugh, taking his perforated lantern, 
with a stub of tallow-candle, would call every- 
body old and strong enough, to him, and then 
through woods, underbrush, over rocks and 
hills, would lead them to prayer-meeting, re- 
gardless of the toil in the summer or the cold 
of the winter. Such devotion can not fail to 
win. These meetings were attended with 
about the usual outward demonstrations of 
W* A J§ shoutings, clapping of hands and leaping for 

yjyK^ j°y- Such a departure from the regular meth- 

ods of worship as conducted in the church 
had the double effect of drawing the people 
to see and hear, as also of stirring up opposi- 
tion." The leaven of revival by this time 
pretty thoroughly permeated the community, so that many were not slow to 
express a preference for the meetings held after this fashion than for the 
services in the church. This gave rise to warm discussion among the several 
adherents. During all this time Brother Flinchbaugh was still the leader of 
the singing in the church, in which he had worshiped from his youth. His 
revival services, in common with all reform movements, awakened active op- 
position. But he was one who could meet his neighbors in friendly discus- 
sion and prove by scripture that his views and practices harmonized with the 
Word of God. Being defeated in argument by the superior wisdom of 
Brother Flinchbaugh, they finally prevailed on the preacher to take the con- 
troversy into the pulpit, and silence these troublesome people. "Accordingly 
on a Sabbath morning, after the introductory services, the pastor arose and 
announced that in all probability he would preach longer this morning than 
usual, but they should have patience and hear him, as he had a special sub- 
ject to bring before the congregation. He at once entered into the subject 
and began to denounce all revival effort, and especially the noise and shout- 
ing that was tolerated in such meetings. While he was striking out with vehe- 
mence Brother Flinchbaugh arose, and with his trumpet voice said to the 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 163 

preacher, *Ei der Heiland gebiet es jo' (why, the Lord commanded it so)* 
The preacher seemed confused, stammered out a few words, and abruptly 
closed the services. The unusually long sermon ended in about ten or fifteen 
minutes." 

About this time it became apparent that to maintain their spiritual life 
they must sever their connection with the church of their early choice and 
identify themselves with such as encourage a change of heart and life. This 
was done about the year 1 829, shortly after the first class in the county was 
organized, with which they became identified. What Rev. John Haney was 
to the Winterstown Church Rev. F. Flinchbaugh was to Stabley's Church, es- 
pecially in their early history. 

Soon after Brother Flinchbaugh had connected himself with our church, 
the annual conference gave him license to preach. He traveled a few- 
years as an itinerant, but served mostly in a local relation with great efficiency. 
It was no unusual thing for him to walk ten miles on a Sunday morning, 
preach and then walk home again. "And there were giants in those days," 
and Brother Flinchbaugh was one of them. His most enduring monument is 
erected in the hearts of a large number of grateful people, who under God 
owe their conversion directly or indirectly to him. Many of his decendants 
are still battling for the same religion and the same church. He died Janu- 
ary 1 4, 1 866, at a ripe and honored old age. His wife, Mary, died January 
20, 1 866. His memory is a precious legacy to the church he loved so well. 
Longfellow has well said : 

"When a great man dies, 

For years beyond our ken, 
The life he leaves behind him 
Lies upon the paths of men." 

And so Rev. F. Flinchbaugh has not been forgotten. The life he lived 
so long and well will continue to lie "upon the paths of men," brightening 
their way to the kingdom of heaven. 

FIRST CHURCH, YORK 

York is the oldest town west of the Susquehanna river. The site of the 
town was selected by Thomas Cookson, on both sides of the Codorus creek. 
Its corporate history dates from September 24, 1 787. It is now a city of 
perhaps 50,000 inhabitants. Most of the stronger denominations early planted 
their churches in this place. The Methodists, from whom our first church 
was bought, came here in I 78 1 , the first service being held by the Rev. 
Freeborn Garretson, January 24 of that year. It was held at the private house 
or James Worley, an Episcopalian, who was a prosperous farmer near town 
in West Manchester township. Mr. Worley had heard Rev. Garretson 
preach near Baltimore, Md., and he was so impressed by his sermon that he 
invited him to come and preach in his house. He accepted this invitation 
and preached to a large audience from the words : "Old things are passed 



164 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

away ; behold all things are become new." The people in and around York 
were confused by his new doctrines, and his sermon called forth exciting de- 
bates. He was invited to return, and he preached a number of times in 
James Worley's farm-house. Being a man of great force of character and 
eloquence, his preaching resulted in securing Mr. Worley and his family and 
many others to adopt his faith. 

At about this time the Methodists built their first church in this town on 
the corner of Philadelphia and Newberry Streets. This building in due time 
was torn down by them, and a brick church, 30x57 feet in size, was erected 
in its place. In 1837 they built a new church on the corner of Philadelphia 
and Beaver Streets, under the pastorate of Rev. Tobias Riley. It was dedi- 
cated to God July 29, 30, 1837. The old church was then offered for sale, 
and our people bought it in the year 1 840. 

At a quarterly conference of York Circuit, held August 1 8, 1 840, at the 
residence of Adam Strayer, the following trustees were elected, with a view 
of establishing a church in York: Jacob Ehrhart, of the paper mill near York; 
Adam Strayer, of near Stabley's Church ; and Peter Rauhouser, of near Dover. 
Rev. John Fohl was the presiding elder, and Rev. Jacob Scholler was pastor 
of the circuit. These trustees met in York on September 1 4 of the same 
year. In looking around over the town for a suitable site, they found the old 
Methodist Church, which had been vacated. This they bought for $1,500, 
having a frontage of 200 feet on Newberry Street, 1 00 feet on Philadelphia 
Street, also 60 x 250 feet a little further west on Philadelphia Street, 
and a cemetery on Gay Street with a frontage of about 150 feet. 
Probably one-half of the land has been sold since then, yet the property now 
owned by the church could not be bought for $25,000. It is one of the most 
desirable points for a house of worship in the city. 

At the annual conference of 1 840, held in the month of February in Bal- 
timore, Md., Rev. John Snyder was appointed to "York Mission," but the way 
was not opened for him to do anything. At the conference held in March, 
1841, in Rapho school house No. 3, in Lancaster county, Rev. C. S. Crider 
was appointed to "York Station" as a missionary. The Otterbein Church, of 
Baltimore, Md., pledged $200 a year toward the support of a pastor here. 
This amount they continued to give for a period of about four years, when 
the annual conference made arrangements to sustain this mission. This 
charge was Rev. C. S. Crider's first field. He was an untried man on a new 
and important work. He had spent all his life on his father's farm tilling the 
soil, and had enjoyed only the slender advantages of the then very common 
schools. But he, like so many others of our great men in church and state* 
had rare natural endowments, and these he improved as well as he could. 
He was an unwearied student of the Bible and naturally an orator. He had 
graces and gifts that naturally drew the people to him. His piety was con- 
spicuous, and he moved among the people with gravity and humility. He 
applied himself earnestly to the task of gathering a congregation in a town 
where he had no members whatever, and where nearly everybody held a 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 165 

nominal membership in some church, but where the per cent, of truly con- 
verted people was alarmingly low. In the two years of his pastorate the 
membership grew from nothing to about fifty. Rev. C. S. Crider was born 
February I, 1811, and died while yet a young man March 5, 1850. His re- 
mains lie buried at Myerstown, Pa. 

At the conference of 1843, Rev. Jacob Reinhart was appointed to York. 
He was a busy little man who was unhappy only when he had nothing to do. 
But here he found work enough to satisfy his most enlarged desire. During 
his pastorate of two years he paid the remaining debt on the property, and 
made another of $1,000 in building a parsonage, the house now owned by 
the Doerr estate. 

In 1 845 the conference placed Rev. Enoch Hoffman in charge of this 
church. During the two years of his service there seemed to have been but 
little loss or gain in the work. A short time before this the burden of sup- 
porting this mission had been thrown on the conference, and this proved to 
be a heavy one for that body to carry, considering the imperfect plans then 
in operation to raise money for the cause of missions. The outlook for the 
success of the work here did not seem to be very hopeful. The leading men 
of the conference had about persuaded one another that the United Brethren 
had no work to do in the large towns, and in York particularly. And now 
they thought that the best thing for the annual conference to do at its next 
session was to abandon York or attach the appointment to York Circuit, and 
thus save their missionary money. They came to the annual conference of 
1847, which met in Hershey's Church near Carlisle, resolved to abandon the 
ground in York, at least so far as a mission station was concerned. Bishop 
William Handby presided at this conference, it being his first appearance in 
the East. He was accompanied by Rev. David Edwards, then the editor of 
the Religious Telescope. On their way from Baltimore, Md., to the place of the 
meeting of the conference they stopped at York to make a little inspection of 
our church property there. The bishop's quick eye soon saw that we had a 
valuable property, and that time would show the wisdom of holding on to it. 
It is said that the bishop labored with the committee to send a man to the mission 
another year, but all his arguments and entreaties were in vain. "Enough 
missionary money had been spent in York," they said. Finding no hope of 
carrying his point there, and yet being pressed in spirit, he brought the matter 
into open conference and there stated his convictions, how he was overruled 
in the stationing committee, argued his case like a lawyer, then begged the 
conference to vote only $50, and by such a vote instruct the committee to 
appoint a man to the church. "Try it one more year," he said. The confer- 
ence could not resist his tearful pleadings and voted the appropriation, and 
thus York was saved to this church. The bishop was happy over the victory- 
he had won. 

This event marked the beginning of the success of our church work in 
this city, the first city in the Union, outside of Baltimore, Md., in which we 
succeeded in planting a strong church to stay. In the course of about ten or 



166 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

twelve years it became the banner church in the Pennsylvania Conference in 
the raising of money for missions, which position it retained for many years. 
It has kept its place well to the front among all the churches in the denomi- 
nation in its benevolent contributions ever since. 

At this critical period in the history of the church, in the year 1847, Rev. 
J. C. Smith was appointed the pastor. He was eminently successful as a 
preacher and pastor. When he came here he found only 
forty-three members, who were poor and disheartened. 
The old church was also sadly in need of repairs, and a 
heavy debt rested on the parsonage. The church had also 
come into disrepute, somewhat largely through jealousy on 
the part of the other churches in the town. It was com- 
monly known by the Pennsylvania Dutch name of "Schwef- 
feldunsf (Brimstone smell), possibly because some forceful 
"fire and brimstone" sermons had been preached here, or 
may be because of the fact that brimstone sticks had been 
used in those early days to light the tallow candles then in 
use, which left a perceptible smell of brimstone in the 
building. Brother Smith's labors here soon brought to the 
church the confidence of the community, and at the end of four years the 
church building was in good repair, and he left the charge in a good condi- 
tion financially, and with one hundred and fifty working members. 

According to the conference minutes his immediate successors to this 
church were Revs. W. B. Wagner, 1 85 1 ; Tobias Crider, 1852; W. B. Wag- 
ner, 1853"54; W. B. Raber, 1855-56, each of whom served the church well 
during their respective but uneventful periods of time. About this time or 
possibly a little later the present parsonage was built at a cost of $3,000. At 
the conference of 1857, Rev. J. C. Smith was returned to this church, and re- 
mained its pastor for a period of four years. He was followed by Rev. Enter- 
line, 1861-62; and Rev. Jacob Erb, 1863-64-65. 

In 1866, at the conference held in Littlestown, Rev. J. C. Smith was sent 
a third time to this church as its pastor, serving it five years more, thus serv- 
ing the church in all thirteen eventful years. During this pastorate the old 
church was torn down in the middle of July, 1 869, and the present two-storied 
substantial brick church was erected on the same site at a cost of $13,000. 
The initiatory steps toward a new church were taken at a quarterly conference 
held December 26, 1868. On Sunday, October 17, 1869, the lecture room 
was opened for divine services by Rev. W. B. Raber, and on Sunday, July 
24, 1870, the completed church was dedicated to God by Bishop J. Weaver, 
D.D., assisted by Bishop J. Dickson, D.D., and Revs. E. Light, W. B. Raber, 
and J. C. Smith. Over $2,000 was raised on this occasion to pay the remain- 
ing claims on the building, which was one of the best in the denomination 
at that time. The church is 46 x 80 feet in size, and has a large steeple 1 10 
feet high at the front, containing a clear-sounding bell. The building com- 
mittee who superintended its erection were Charles Lafean, Rev. Daniel Eb- 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



167 



erly, Jacob Allison, Henry Lucking and. Rev. J. C. Smith. Rev. J. C. Smith 
deserves more credit than any other minister that ever preached here for the 
present standing of this congregatiom. He preached the Gospel for forty- 
three years. He died November 13, 1886, at the age of 67 years, 9 months 
and 2 1 days. The church 
edifice which he built here 
is a substantial monument 
to his memory. 

At the conference of 
1871, Rev. W. B. Raber 
became pastor here a sec- 
ond time, and at the close 
of his fourth year, during 
the sitting of the annual 
conference, he died. He 
was an able man. In 1875 
Rev. J. P. Smith became 
the pastor, who was a very 
successful revivalist and 
who greatly built up the 
work. During his first year 
he had 1 75 conversions. 
He remained four years. 
At the close of his first 
year's pastorate at the con- 
ference of 1876, his report 
of the membership of the 
church was as follows : 
Members at the beginning First church, York 

of the year, 252; members received, 104; died, 4; removed, 2; expelled, 
dropped and withdrawn, 92 ; members at the end of the year, 260 ; increase, 
8. The increase in the number of members during the year of the great re- 
vival was remarkably small, but, no doubt, the church was greatly quickened 
under this mighty revival wave. He was followed by Rev. J. P. Miller, who 
also enjoyed a successful pastorate, remaining three years. He was followed 
in 1 882 by Rev. J. R. Meredith. Under him the church was repaired at a cost 
of $1,500. He remained three years and was followed, in 1885, by Rev. I. 
H. Albright, who remained five years. At the time of the conference of 1885, 
the congregation unfortunately was divided upon the question of a suitable 
man for the church, and the writer was sent there as a kind of a "dark horse." 
The church officials received him rather reluctantly, with the tacit understand- 
ing that they would bear with him for a year. Thus he had a divided church 
to contend with from the start ; but the Lord came to the rescue, the divided 
elements were united under the gracious operations of the Holy Spirit, and 
success came to the work. He spent five of the most pleasant and most sue- 




168 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

cessful years of his ministry in this church. Under his labors two new churches 
were built in the city, the Allison Memorial Church, built by Jacob Allison, 
and the Fourth Church in the eastern part of the city. He also organized 
congregations in each of them. Since that time the following is the list of the 
pastors of this church : Revs. J. D. Killian, 1890-91 ; M. J. Heberly, 1892-93; 
H. B. Spayd, 1894-95-96-97-98-99-00-01 ; L. C. Wiswaeser, 1902; Joseph 
Daugherty, 1903-04-05-06. J. A. Gohn, 1907-08-09—. 

During Rev. J. D. Killian's pastorate, commencing with October 1 1, 1890, 
a week's services were held in celebrating the semi-centennial year in the 
history of the church. A large pipe organ, costing $2,000, was placed in the 
church in 1902. Since the beginning of Rev. Joseph Daugherty's pastorate 
the use of the German language at the preaching services was abandoned. 

The names of many persons stand out prominently on the records of 
this church because of their loyalty and devotion through many years of 
service. Flinchbaugh, Allison, Kottcamp, Oberdick, Carl, Schroeder, Fisher, 
Lucking, Brunhouse, Hoff, Stough, Stegemyer, Kleffman, Smith, Hager, Witta, 
Denues, Crider, Henise, Strine, Porter, all familiar names to the older mem- 
bers and to the former pastors, and many others "whose names are in the 
book of life," are worthy of mention. 

Rev. H. B. Schroeder, a strong and influential member of this congrega- 
tion for more than forty years, a recognized leader in all its activities, deserves 
more than a passing notice. He was born in Diepholtz, Kingdom of Hano- 
ver, Germany, October 26, 1825, and died in York, November 9, 1888. He 
came with his parents to this country in 1 844. He settled 
in York in the year 1 846. He married Miss Catherine 
Hager shortly after coming here. They had ten children, of 
whom only two are living, Mrs. J. L. Smith, and Mrs. Lewis 
Roth. He was a dyer by trade, but worked for a while in 
a stone quarry ; also at masoning. He finally became a 
I cigar manufacturer, which he made his life business, and 

If/ which he carried on at his well known business place on 
West Market Street for many years. He and his wife knew 

how to keep house, for out of a small income they man- 
Rev, H. B. Schroeder l . l • . f • 1 . - 11-1 

aged to lay in store tor a rainy day, yet in all the years 
they gave liberally to the church and all her various institutions. He was 
converted to Gcd at a camp-meeting held in Rauhouser's woods near Dover 
in 1847, and joined the church in this city September 5th of the same year. 
He was licensed to preach in 1850, and was useful as a local preacher. He 
was in his time sexton, trustee, class leader, Sunday School superintendent, 
treasurer, general steward, delegate to the annual conference, and local 
preacher. He was a man of considerable intelligence, was well informed on 
many subjects, and especially was he a man of the Bible, and always de- 
lighted to talk on sacred themes with all whom he met. He was a man or 
strong convictions, and was inclined to be very out-spoken when occasion re- 
quired. Death suddenly ended his earthly career, and he was one whom the 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 169 

church could hardly spare. His place was hard to fill, and never was filled 
just as he filled it ; but our loss was his gain. "God's workmen die, but his 
work goes on." 

DALLASTOWN CHURCH 

Dallastown is a thriving town located seven miles southeast of York, 
along the York and Chanceford Turnpike, and on an eminence of 656 feet 
above sea level. Although the surrounding land is now fertile and produc- 
tive, it was not so in 1841 when ex-sheriff James Peeling, of York, bought a 
tract of ninety-five acres for $500, most of which is now the site of Dallas- 
town. "This tract for many years before had been a parade or muster ground 
for the militia, and consequently was an open commons." It was the northern 
limit of what was known as the "York Barrens." The town was given the 
name it bears during the presidential campaign of 1 844, in honor of George 
M. Dallas, of Philadelphia, who was elected and served as vice-president of 
the United States under the Polk administration. The town did not grow 
rapidly in its early history. Its population in 1870 was 287, in 1 880 it was 
486, in 1885 it was 610, and now it is about 2,000. The town was incor- 
porated into a borough in the year 1867. 

The brethren had established preaching places around and close to the 
place where the town now stands many years. They preached in the private 
houses of Lewis Hartman, John Daugherty, the grandfather of Revs. Joseph, 
B. F., and Samuel Daugherty ; Jacob Hartman, John Keller, Jacob Spatz, and 
Jacob Sechrist, the father of Rev. H. A. Sechrist, Field Secretary of the Gen- 
eral Church Erection Society. The places where these early services were 
held were located within a radius of several miles from Dallastown. Jacob 
Sechrist's home was near the town, and Mrs. Sechrist, in attending some of 
these meetings, would carry her child, now Rev. H. A. Sechrist, as far as three 
miles and back again. Such devotion counts in any family for Christ and his 
cause. 

When the village of Dallastown was composed of ten or twelve small 
houses John Neff was the first to suggest to Charles Neff, who was a carpen- 
ter by trade, the idea of building a church in it. It needed a church, as it was 
commonly known by the name of "Sodom," on account of the general wick- 
edness of its inhabitants. Jacob Sechrist was called the "Lot" of the town, and 
there was a common saying among the people that if Lot would leave, Sodom 
would be destroyed. He lived here to a good old age and was the chief 
factor in the building of a church for the redemption of the place. 

A small brick church, 37 x 42 feet in size, was built in, 1 850. The corner- 
stone was laid in June of that year by Rev. J. C. Smith. The mason work 
was done by John Weldin The carpenter work was done by Charles Neff. 
Jacob Sechrist made the brick and delivered them on the ground for five dol- 
lars a thousand. The contemplated cost of the church was about $500, but 
its actual cost was about $1,200. Charles Neff's work cost $125, and his 



170 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



wages were sixty cents a day. The church was dedicated to God at about 
Christmas time in 1 850 by Rev. J. C. Smith, assisted by Revs. A. Owen, George 
Schneider, and Fred. Grimm, the last two of whom were the pastors of the 
circuit. A steeple was built on this church about ten or twelve years before 
it was torn down. A parsonage was built on the corner near the church in 
1879, under the pastorate of Rev. G. W. Lightner. The 
house is now owned by Wm. Sechrist. In this old church 
hundreds of souls were gloriously saved. This plain 
building was made fragrant with the aroma of old 
hymns, the earnest prayers of intercessors who knew how- 
to plead with God and the shouts of the redeemed made 
happy in the consciousness of sins forgiven. The " old- 
fashioned revivals" that were held in it were days of 
power, of which many of the older members love to 
Even the cold-hearted and hypocritical be- 
liever who looked on was 
constrained to say, "The 
Lord is in it." The follow- 
ing brethren were the 
trustees when the first 
church was built : Jacob 
Hartman, Jonathan Neff 
and Jacob Sechrist. 

Up to the year 1885 
the Dallastown appoint- 
ment belonged to a large 
circuit, but the officials of 
the church petitioned the 
conference of 1 885 to con- 
stitute this church a station, 
as they felt able to support a pastor themselves. This petition was granted, 
and Rev. J. P. Smith was sent as the pastor. The membership of the church 
at this time was 185. Under his pastorate the old church was torn down and 
a new brick church, 40 x 65 feet in size, was erected in its place. The corner- 
stone was laid on Sunday, June 1 3, 1 886, by Rev. C. T. Stearn, D.D., assisted 
by Revs. A. H. Rice and J. P. Smith. About $350 in subscriptions and cash 
were secured toward the building fund. It was dedicated to God on Sunday, 
September 12, 1886, by the same brethren who officiated at the corner-stone 
laying. The church was erected at a cost of $4,200, of whick $1,300 was 
needed on the day of dedication to meet all claims. On account of the rainy 
weather the whole amount was not secured at this time, but the trustees as- 
sumed the balance and the dedication services proceeded. On the Sabbath 
following the entire amount due on the church was secured. The following 
persons composed the board of trustees at this time : Joseph Sechrist, H. D. 
Kauffman, Chester Smith, Solomon Kauffman and Jacob F. Spatz. 




Dallastown Old Church 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



171 



Rev. A. H. Rice described the church as follows : "This is a beautiful 
church. The windows are of cathedral colored glass. It is furnished with 
excellent pews, a fine pulpit, a beautiful altar-rail, a large marble slab com- 
munion table and two nice altar chairs, and in the pulpit recess are three extra 
fine pulpit chairs, the gift of J. Frederick Nelker, of Baltimore, Md. The roof 
is slate, and a steeple ninety-five feet high graces the front of the church in 
which swings a 1 , 600-pound McShane bell." It was supposed at that time 
that this church would answer the purposes of the congregation for many 
years to come. The old parsonage was sold and a new one was built by the 
side of the church during Brother Smith's pastorate. 

Since Dallastown Church has been made a station the following pastors 
have served it : Revs. J. P. Smith, 1885-86-87; J. D. Killian, 1888-89: J. H. 
Young, 1890-91-92-93; I. H.Albright, 1894-95-96-97-98; R. R. Rodes, 1899- 
1900-01-02-03 to October, 1904; L. Walter Lutz, 1904-05-06-07-08-09—. 

This congregation has enjoyed great prosperity throughout its history, 
and especially during the last twenty years. It has been blessed with great 
tidal waves of revival influence and power that swept many souls into God's 
kingdom like shells and pearls from the deep sea to the pebbly beach. During 
the writer's last year's pastorate one hundred and eight persons were won to 
Christ, most of whom were men. The congregation has grown to be one of 
the strongest and most influential in the conference. The following young 
men entered the ministry from this church, all of whom are living and in 
active service : Revs. H. A. Sechrist, A. R. Ayers, D. Barshinger, B. F. Daugh- 
erty, Joseph Daugherty, S. F. Daugherty, F. B. Emenheiser, B. D. Rojahn and 
G. C. Daugherty. 

The following are the names of some of the members who for years 
have been prominent in active service in this church : Neff, Sechrist, Spatz, 
Green, Raab, Daugherty, Rojahn, Eberly, Kauffman, Reidel, Minnich, Stabley, 
Heckert, Heisler, Fix, Grimm, Glatfelter, Ness, and others. 
We have room for the picture of one of these brethren, Jacob 
F. Spatz, who for many years stood in official relation to the 
church in one capacity and another, always active, faithful 
and true, until he fell asleep in Jesus a few years ago. 

The second old church, which was not very old, was 
no longer adequate to accommodate the growing and 
aggressive congregation and Sunday School properly. For 
several years plans for the erection of a new church were 
considered. Under the faithful and hard-working pastor, 
Rev. L. Walter Lutz, the new church finally materialized. 
A large lot was secured early in the year 1907 from J. C. 
Heckert, located in the heart of the town on the opposite 
side of the street from the old church. Ground was broken 
for the new building in May, 1907, and the corner-stone of 
the new church was laid August 4, 1907, by Rev. W. H. J- F- Spatz 

Washinger, D.D., presiding elder of the conference, assisted by Rev. L. Walter 




172 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 






Lutz, pastor in charge. The writer preached on this occasion on Sunday 
morning and evening from I Cor. 3 : 9, and Jer. 5:1. Eleven ministers of our 
church and several of other churches were in attendance at the various serv- 
ices of the day, and $640 in cash and subscriptions for the church were se- 
cured. It was a great day for our church. The services partook more of the 
nature of a love-feast — a reuniting and binding of old ties and the making of 
new ones. Besides the sermons there were pleasing addresses from every 
minister present, from Rev. J. W. Grimm, the oldest, to — its hard to say who 

bore this distinction, the 
youngest. These were 
pithy and pointed, full 
of reminiscences and car- 
ried words of praise 
from their respective 
congregations and best 
wishe s for th e successful 
completion of this hand- 
some church. Up to the 
time of the closing of 
these services $15,000 
had been secured toward 
the erection of this edi- 
fice. 

The new Bethlehem 
Church is built of Hum- 
melstown brownstone, 
with cut brownstone 
trimmings, the mason 
work of broken range 
ashler, pointed with red 
cement, and the Sunday 
School of brick. The 
auditorium is 66 x 11 
feet and the Sunday 
School room is 53x82 

Dallastown New Church f eet ' n s ' ze J^g ex- 

treme length of the building is 1 1 9 feet from front to rear, and the greatest 
width is 86 feet. It has two entrance towers ; one is 78 feet and the other is 
40 feet high. It is a great structure, requiring great faith to project, perse- 
vering work to complete ; but the idea that it was to be erected to the honor 
and glory of a great God was a constant inspiration to them. More than three 
years were covered in the erection of this sacred edifice. It is no " cheap 
job," such as is soon done. Time, patience, faith, hope, love, prayer, toil, 
sacrifice and tears were some of the ingredients that were put into it, and 
these mean more than the money, stone, brick, lumber, steel and other ma- 





UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 173 

terial factors that were used in its construction. Before the new church was 
started, and while the brethren were thinking about it, trying to plan wisely 
for it and praying much over it, they had a vision of a temple, beautiful, com- 
modious, substantial, which they considered would be in a measure at least 
worthy of the God of their fathers. In the construction of this beautiful 
church they came up to the ideal in that vision as nearly as they could. 
Everybody who sees the building and who knows the financial condition of 
this people will say that they did remarkably well. 

It is one of the great churches of our denomination. A few words can 
not describe it adequately, and we refrain from the task, only to say in a gen- 
eral way that the entire structure is a Tudor Gothic design of architecture. 
Its several departments and many rooms, vestibules, choir and organ lofts, 
large columns and trusses, sliding partitions, large memorial art-figure win- 
dows, opalescent glass windows, toilets, kitchen, light and heating appliances, 
furniture and furnishings must be seen to be appreciated. The cost of its 
construction is put at $33,000. The total cost, including the site and the re- 
modeling of the brick parsonage next to the church, is about $42,000. The 
board of trustees, who with the pastor, Rev. L. Water Lutz, brought this en- 
terprise to its happy consummation, are A. F. Fix, Reuben Bates, H. H. Myers, 
J. C. Heckert, W. F. Glatfelter, Dr. W. H. Minnich and Samuel Kauffman. 

This magnificent church was dedicated to Almighty God on Sunday, May 
15, 1910, by Bishop W. M. Bell, D.D., of Los Angeles, Cal. The dedication 
services really opened on Saturday evening before, when the bishop deliv- 
ered his great lecture on "American Perils." The Sabbath day on this occa- 
sion was one of the brightest and best days of the year. Bishop Bell preached 
at the morning and evening services two edifying sermons on the themes, 
"The witness of God in the Nature of Man," and "Christ and the General 
Welfare." The amount needed to cancel the entire indebtedness was about 
$23,000, and during the day $10,000 was secured in cash and subscriptions, 
leaving about $1 3,000 of a deficit, which the trustees and congregation as- 
sumed. Then the church was formally dedicated to the worship of God by 
Bishop Bell, who was assisted in the services of the day by Rev. W. H. Wash- 
inger, D.D., presiding elder of the conference, Rev. L. Walter Lutz, the pastor, 
and the following visiting brethren of the conference : Revs. J. E. Klefrman, 
D.D., D. R. Wagner, A. N. Horn, E. L. Hughes, S. A. Crabill, J. A. Gohn, A. 
R. Ayers, L. A. Stangle, G. K. Hartman, E. H. Hummelbaugh, J. P. Koontz, 
R. R. Rodes, E. B. Emenheiser, B. D. Rojahn, and G. C. Daugherty. A num- 
ber of the former pastors of the church preached every evening of the week 
following dedication day, and these services were well attended and spiritual 
in their character. With these the dedication services of the church ended. 
Now this building is being tested by actual use, as to whether or not it will 
fully answer the purpose of its erection. The first church stood thirty-five 
years, the second church stood twenty-five years, and this one we hope may 
stand five hundred years, to the glory of God and the salvation of men. 

The Salem Church in Snyderstown, now called Yoe, is a child of the 



174 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

Dallastown congregation. Yoe is a thriving borough located less than one 
mile north of Dallastown. Rev. L. Kohr commenced to preach here in 1 885 
in Moses Snyder's cigar shop and store room. The corner-stone of a new- 
church was laid on Sunday, September 1 6, 1 888, by Rev. J. D. Killian, the 
pastor, assisted by Rev. S. N. Moyer, of York Circuit. A neat frame church, 
32 x 40 feet in size, covered with slate and heated with a furnace in the cellar, 
was dedicated to God November 25, 1888, by Rev. A. H. Rice. This church 
stands near where Revs. John Brown, Jacob Snyder, and Jacob Erb preached 
seventy-five and eighty years ago. John A. Snyder, Moses Snyder, and 
Abraham Strayer deserve much praise for being back of this work, thereby 
making it a success. 

Some years after this point was separated from Dallastown. Under the 
pastorate of Rev. J. P. Koontz this church was torn down and a new buff 
brick church, 56x75 feet in size, was built in its place in the year 1901. A 
tower 85 feet high was built on the entrance corner, in which swings a 1 000- 
pound McShane bell. One of the novel features of this church is that it is 
built across a stream of water running through the town, the walls being sup- 
ported across it by two large arches. The corner-stone of this church was 
laid August 11, 1 90 1 , by Rev. H. B. Spayd, assisted by Revs. J. P. Anthony, 
R. R. Rodes, and J. P. Koontz, the pastor. It was dedicated to God January 
12, 1902, by Rev. W. M. Weekley, Church Erection Secretary. Its total cost 
was about $10,000. In 1898 Rev. J. P. Koontz built a splendid parsonage in 
the town. 

ROHLER'S UNION CHURCH 

This church is located in the northeast end of Dover township, York 
county, and is a part of Dover Circuit, of which Rev. D. J. March is the pas- 
tor. It is conveniently located for the people who worship there, but by many 
from a distance who come to it for the first time it may be considered to be 
an out-of-the-way place, in the midst of the Conewago hills and far away from 
the railroad. Many of the members of the conference have never seen it. 
Yet this unpretentious country church has an interesting history, the begin- 
ning of which dates back more than a hundred years. 

Near the close of the eighteenth century a number of the people of the 
Baptist faith came into this section of the county, who believed in the doctrine 
of immersion, and who wrote to the Vincent Baptist Church, in Chester 
county, requesting that congregation to send some person properly qualified 
to baptize them. "This request was granted, and eight were baptized in the 
name of the Triune God." They also desired to have a more convenient 
place of worship than that which private houses afforded. Accordingly on 
the 19th of March, 1 800, Jacob Rohler for one pound and ten shillings deeded 
"one acre of land adjoining a graveyard to Hugh Laird, John Richcreek and 
John Miller, trustees, on which land was to be built a new school-house and 
union meeting-house for any that preach the gospel." It is not definitely 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 175 

known how long previous to the erection of this building the graveyard had 
been used for burial purposes, but the date 1 774 is cut on one of the oldest 
rude sandstones at the head of a grave, signifying the date of the burial. 

The meeting-house was erected in due time, and in 1 804 another Baptist 
minister visited this little flock and baptized a few others in an adjoining 
stream. At this time an organization was effected. It was known among the 
Baptists as the "Dover Baptist Church," the first church of that denomination 
in the county. The congregation had a regular pastor for a term of but four 
years, and for nearly half a century later it was occasionally visited by differ- 
ent clergymen of the same faith. The membership at one time had in- 
creased to fifty under the Rev. Henry Essick, who came here from Delaware 
county in 1 842. At this writing there is not a single Baptist in the community and 
only two Baptist congregations within the county limits. The adjoining cemetery 
contains the remains of a large number of persons who were once its members. 

The Lutherans commenced to worship in this building at an early day, 
and continued to do so until the year 1870, when they built a church of their 
own a few hundred yards west of this building. They have a large congre- 
gation and Sunday School. 

The first preaching in this place by the United Brethren preachers as far 
as we could learn was done by Rev. Christian Newcomer, December 9, 1802. 
He says in his Journal, "This morning I rode about twelve miles, and preached 
to a little flock at Rohler's school-house." He preached here again on Janu- 
ary 21, 1 806. He says, "This forenoon I preached in Rohler's school-house : 
the people were extremely well satisfied, and requested me to visit them 
again. I lodged with Mr. Eshenf elder." On May 5th of the same year he 
preached here again "in the German and English languages, from John 
20: 20." On Sunday, November 15, 1807, he preached here from Isa. 12: 
1, 2, 3. He preached here later quite frequently. He did a great deal of 
pioneer work in the planting of our church in this state as well as in other 
states. Other ministers of our church preached at this appointment at various 
intervals, but by whom we are not able to tell because of the lack of reliable 
records. But from 1 840 the church was used as a regular preaching place 
by our pastors. Among these were Revs. J. W. Burd, J. Erb, S. Enterline, H. 
Greenblade, T. Crider, I. Coombs, W. B. Raber, J. S. Wentz, W. Humberger, P. 
Corl, F. Grimm, and J. B. Jones. 

One remarkable fact connected with this appointment is that our preach- 
ers preached here regularly, up to the year 1855 without having a single 
member in the whole community connected with our church. We have no 
definite information as to whether any souls were saved during this period or 
not; but it is likely that some were won to Christ. Of course, our early 
preachers then understood better how to catch fish than how to string them 
up. Since that time they have learned to do both pretty well. Our preachers 
were generally entertained at the home of Philip Crone, grandfather of Rev. 
A. C. Crone, who was a member of the Lutheran Church, and who served as 
the steward for our brethren with great faithfulness. 



176 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

The erection of the Lutheran church in 1870 was opposed by some of 
their members, who refused to go into the new church. These and other 
Christian people in the community united in tearing down the old school- 
house and church and in erecting the present Union Church on the site occu- 
pied by the old building. It was built in 1870 of native sandstone, and is 
32 x 36 feet in size. Philip Crone and John H. Myers did the mason work. 
The trustees and building committee were Samuel Runkle, J. H. Myers and 
Henry S. Crone. The corner-stone was laid by Rev. W. B. Raber, who it is 
said preached one of his great sermons on that occasion. The church was 
dedicated to God on the last Sunday of December, 1870, by Rev. W. H. 
Craumer, assisted by Rev. George Brickley. During this year the following 
members of our church moved into this community and attended this church : 
Mrs. Rebecca Smith and J. H. Myers, but these held their membership at 
Weigle's church, some miles south of this point. After the dedication of the 
church Rev. W. H. Craumer organized a congregation here composed of the 
following members : Rebecca Smith, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Myers, J. W. Bushy, 
Jesse H. Smith, H. S. Crone, E. S. Crone, and J. S. Crone. 

This appointment for many years belonged to Liverpool Circuit, with 
Liverpool, now Manchester, as the preacher's headquarters. It was for a time 
connected with Yocumtown Mission. Since 1872 or 1873 it belonged to 
Dover Circuit, and has been served by the following pastors : Revs. A. Trip- 
ner, 1873; F.Grimm, 1874-75; L. Kohr, 1876; S. Diller, 1877-78-79-80; J. 
B.Jones, 1881-82-83; S. R.Gipple, 1884-85; L. Kohr, 1886-87; J. L. Nich- 
olas, 1888; D. Barshinger, 1889-90-91; J. A. Shettel, 1892-93-94; W. O. 
Grimm, 1895; L. Rexrode, 1896; H. L. Eichinger, 1897; H. Boyer, 1898-99- 
1900. F. B. Emenheiser, 1901-02; J. W. Houseman, 1903-04-05; H. E. 
Shultz, 1906-07-08 to July, 1909, when he died; B. D. Rojahn, to October, 
1909; D.J. March, 1909—. 

Since 1870 the church has passed through uneventful but prosperous 
years. Its membership is composed of some of the best people of the com- 
munity and its growth is slow but substantial. Although it is a union church, 
no other congregation worships there but the United Brethren. 

SPRINGET CHURCH 

Springet, known for years as "Possumtown," later as Pleasureville, and 
now as Springet, is located two and a half miles northeast of York. Anthony 
Seiple lived at this place seventy years ago, where there were only a few 
houses, and the surrounding country was covered with a dense forest. His 
only occupation was "coon and possum hunting," and he was called "the 
king of possums." The first name the town bore was not desirable, hence it 
was changed to its later name and then to that it now bears. 

Our ministers commenced to preach in this village in the home of Dr. 
George Conn, who was a relative of "uncle" George Conn, of York, in 1855. 
The doctor was converted to God during the winter of 1854-55 at a great 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 177 

meeting held in the Liverpool (Manchester) union church under the pastoral 
labors of Rev. W. B. Raber. At a quarterly conference held at a camp-meet- 
ing near Manchester August 1 6, 1 860, the following brethren were elected 
as trustees to build a church in Springet : Charles Diehl, of Manchester, 
George Conn and Lawrence Mahr. These trustees bought eighty-six perches 
of ground from William Nissley in the heart of the village for $60. The date 
of the deed is January 19, 1861. Within a few months after the purchase of 
the lot, a neat frame church, 30 x 35 feet in size, was built at a cost of about 
$500, without counting considerable free labor that was done toward its erec- 
tion. At this time Rev. J. B. Jones was the pastor, and the only members of 
our church in the village were Dr. George Conn, John Gipe and Lawrence 
Mahr. Rev. J. C. Smith laid the corner-stone of the church on a cold day in 
the spring of 1861. He preached upon the walls of the new building, hav- 
ing been refused admission into the school-house because the directors were 
not much in sympathy with the "prayer-meeting people." Rev. F. Hagen, a 
Moravian preacher of York, was also locked out of the school-house because he 
was going to have a prayer-meeting there, when Dr. George Conn left him 
hold the meeting in his house. We have never learned that prayer or a 
prayer-meeting ever did any harm to any person or property. The completed 
church was dedicated to God on Sunday, June 2, 1861, by Rev. S. Enterline, 
who was then pastor of our First Church in York, assisted by Revs. W. B. 
Raber and Fred. Grimm. It was named "Sardis Church." 

Some glorious revivals were held in this small church. But the growing 
congregation and Sunday School demanded a larger and better church. The 
old building was torn down in 1 880, and the present frame church, 30 x 60 
feet in size, was built on the site of the old one at a cost of $1,400, under the 
pastorate of Rev. A. H. Rice. It is a plain and attractive building, has a nice 
steeple in which swings a bell of excellent tone. It was dedicated on Sun- 
day, November 7, 1 880, by Rev. D. D. DeLong, D.D., President of Lebanon 
Valley College, assisted by Revs. C. T. Stearn, D.D., presiding elder, J. C. 
Smith, J. P. Miller, J. R. Hutchison and A. H. Rice, pastor in charge. 

The following are the names of some of the early and influential members 
of this church : the Conns, Billets, Shepps, Kellers, Plowmans, Shrulls, Shen- 
bergers, Bowers, Innersts, and Ferreys, most of whom have gone to their rest. 
Their children and grandchildren live to carry on the work they so heroically 
commenced. 

The lot, 30 x 200 feet, for the parsonage was donated by Emanuel Keller. 
The date of the deed is June 30, 1 889. The parsonage was built in 1 889, 
under the pastorate of Rev. S. N. Moyer, at a cost of about $1,200. 

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH 

As early as 1 838 the pastors of York Circuit commenced to preach at 
Ehrhart's Paper Mill, located about three miles southeast of York, the ruins 
of which may yet be seen. They preached here regularly for many years, 



178 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



and won many souls to Christ. Among the converts was Rev. W. H. 
Craumer, who was an active itinerant in the conference many years. They 
also preached in several private houses several miles east of the paper mill ; 
among them was that of John Loy, whose wife was a member of the church. 
In 1858, while Revs. J. S. Wentz and J. B. Jones were on York Circuit, they 
desired to hold a protracted meeting at this point, but the house was too 
small and inconvenient for such a purpose. Then George Musser, an un- 
converted man in the neighborhood, offered them the use of his corn-barn for 
such a meeting, which they accepted. They made some rough, temporary 
benches and seats out of slabs and boards and placed them on the floor of 
this barn and commenced to hold a meeting October 4, 1858, which lasted 
several weeks and resulted in eighty conversions. A class of fifty-five mem- 
bers was organized here out of these converts, among whom were Benj. 

Raab, George Musser, Barney Holtzapple, 
William Wineka, Henry Wineka, John 
Stabley, Herman Whitcamp, and many 
others who became prominent in the life 
and work of the church in the community. 
Others of these converts joined our church 
at Heindel's and at Dallastown, and some 
united with the Evangelical Association. 

After this great meeting had ended 
George Musser built a spring house over 
the spring on his farm, and built a second 
Musser s Spring House story on it as a permanent place to hold 

religious services in. It is still standing, and is about 15x20 feet in size- 
Here our preachers preached about twenty years, or until Mr. Musser moved 
away. The old plain box-shaped pulpit which our preachers used here may 
yet be seen, standing in the corner of the building as a silent monitor of days 
gone by. 

After George Musser had moved away the people commenced to agitate 
the importance of building a church. John Stabley donated about one-fourth 
of an acre of land for this purpose. A small chapel, 28 x 36 feet in size, was 
then built upon it early in the eighties. It was built as a union church be- 
tween the United Brethren and the Evangelical Association, and is located 
about one mile north of Yoe. When the chapel was about completed some 
of the brethren of the Evangelical Association suggested to Rev. L. Kohr, who 
was then our pastor here, that to save expenses he and Rev. Greininger, of 
the Evangelical Association, dedicate it. This suggestion did not seem to be 
quite straight to Brother Kohr, and so stated the matter to Rev. J. C Smith, 
who thought as Brother Kohr did. So Brother Kohr asked Rev. J. C. Smith 
to take his place at the dedication services, which he consented to do. When 
these brethren arrived at the church on dedication day a Rev. Hornberger, of 
the Evangelical Association, was already in the pulpit. When Brother Smith 
stepped on the pulpit platform he withdrew and took a seat in the congrega- 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 179 

tion and would not take any part in the services whatever, not even pray at 
the close of the services when called upon to do so. Brother Smith dedi- 
cated the church as a union church. Some years ago our people bought the 
Evangelicals right to the church, and we now have undisputed claim to it. 
Our people rejoiced in obtaining full control of this property, because, as the 
saying goes, "A union church is like a union horse — everybody wants to use 
him, but no one wants to feed him." At that time the building was remod- 
eled, beautified and reopened for services by Rev. A. R. Ayers. From that 
time on it has been known as St. Paul's United Brethren Church. 

MANCHESTER CHURCH 

Manchester, formerly Liverpool, is located about six miles north of York, 
along the York and Conewago Turnpike. William Reeser founded the town in 
1814, when he secured Gen. Jacob Spangler to survey the land and make a plot 
of the town. The original plot contained 100 lots. Tickets were sold at $100, 
each one of which drew a lot. The drawing took place July 30, 1814. It is 
said that the ingenious founder cleared $4,000 by this venture, and in 1816 
he built the large brick mansion at a cost of $5,000 on the angle formed by 
the union of the "old road" and the turnpike. The town was incorporated 
by action of the court August 2 7, 1869, and the name was changed to Man- 
chester. 

In November, 1820, a number of citizens of the town met in the house of 
William Reeser, for the purpose of laying plans to build a union church and 
school-house. At a later meeting held March 28, 1 82 1 , C. M. Poor, William 
Reeser, Jacob Fink, John Gross and Daniel Gotwald were chosen trustees and 
a building committee. The church was built in the summer of 1 82 1 , at a cost 
of $612, and was decicated January 21, 1822, by Rev. Robert Cathcart, a 
Presbyterian, and Rev. J. G. Schmucker, a Lutheran, both of York. A school- 
house was built on the same lot. This meeting-house was torn down in 
1879, and the present union church was built in its place. 

The first United Brethren preacher to preach in this town was Rev. 
Christian Newcomer, who preached here January 1 1, 1824, from Eph. 2: 18, 
18, 19. After the sermon he "lodged with Samuel Gross." About 1832 Rev. 
William Brown commenced a regular appointment in this church, which 
later became the center of a large circuit for our preachers. Here our pastors 
were accustomed to live for many years and preach in a large section of 
country around it. Among our first members here were Charles Diehl, Sam- 
uel Bear, Daniel Rodes, Henry Hoff and John Spahr. Camp-meetings be- 
came popular in this community at an early date. One was held in August, 
1851, on Henry Hoff's land, where it was held annually for a number of 
years. In August, 1 860, the camp-meeting was held in another grove near 
here. Later it was held for a number of years on John Wogan's land. On 
Monday, May 24, 1 880, about sixteen acres of land was bought of Mr. Emig, 
for $1 35.00 per acre, and the grove was named "Emig's Grove United Breth- 



180 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

ren Camp Ground." The first camp-meeting was held here in August of that 
year, commencing August 4th. It was held on this ground annually until the 
year 1 886, inclusive. On August 1 7, 1 886, at 8.20 A.M., this grove and all 
the cottages, the tabernacle and boarding hall were destroyed by fire, entailing 
a loss of $3,495, covered by insurance. Hundreds of persons were saved at 
these camp-meetings, and resulted in strengthening our churches in this com- 
munity. 

Our people continued to worship in the union church in Manchester 
until the year 1878. M. L. Duhling donated a lot in town on High Street for 
the erection of a church of our own. A neat, modern church was erected 
under the pastorate of Rev. G. W.Kiracofe at a cost of $1,700. J. A. Demp- 
wolf was the architect and George Yinger was the contractor. Col. J. A. 
Stahle, H. M. Everhart, Charles Mathias, Jacob Eppley and J. B. Rentzel con- 
stituted the board of trustees and the building committee. It was dedicated 
to God December 14, 1878, by Bishop J. J. Glossbrehner, D.D. 

The following pastors served this church since the year 1 868 : Revs. W. 
H. Craumer, 1868-69-70-71-72-73; S.T.Wallace, 1874; Peter Corl, 1 875 ; A. 
Tripner, 1876; G. W. Kiracofe, 1877-78; A. H. Rice, 1879-80-81; I. H. 
Albright, 1882-83-84; T. Garland, 1885-86; A. H. Shank, 1887-88; W. H. 
Shearer, 1889; J. W. Houseman, 1890; D. W. Sollenberger, 1891-92-93; M. 
J. Heberly, 1894-95 ; E. H. Hummelbaugh, 1896-97-98-99-1900-01 ; J. E. B. 
Rice (resigned), H. L. Eichinger, 1902-03; A. B. Mower, 1904-05-06; J. R. 
Hutchison, 1907-08-09—. 

JERUSALEM CHURCH 

The conversion of Samuel Bear, Sr., who then lived near where Mt. Wolf 
now stands, marked the beginnings of a work of grace that led up to the 
erection of this church. Prior to his conversion this brother used to attend 
religious services in the Union Church in Manchester. He became deeply 
convicted of sin and commenced to pray earnestly for salvation. At his home, 
on going to and from his work, while at work, without ceasing he called on 
the name of the Lord for deliverance. He was gloriously saved in 1 840 while 
at prayer under a large white oak tree located near the center school-house 
between Manchester and Emigsville. After his conversion he went toward 
his home shouting praises to God, and stopped at the homes of several fami- 
lies and told of his conversion to God. His experience as told by him made 
a profound impression upon all who heard it, and was the means of persuad- 
ing a number of them to seek Christ also. 

Shortly after Samuel Bear's conversion John Shelly, who was an habitual 
drunkard, was also led to seek Christ. He came into the community as a stranger 
from Shelly's Island, near Goldsboro, and appeared to be a man of some at- 
tractive qualities. He stayed sober long enough to work himself into the 
good graces of Miss Sallie Myers, whose hand he won in marriage. She was 
an excellent young lady, the daughter of Samuel Myers, a well-to-do farmer, 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 181 

who was a member of the Mennonite Church. After Mr. Shelly had been 
married only a short time his old drink habit began to assert itself more and 
more until it assumed to have him in complete control, thus making his young 
wife's life very unhappy. This so displeased his father-in-law that he threat- 
ened to chase his drunken son-in-law off and take his daughter back to his 
home, unless he would stop his drunken career at once. He also told him 
that his only hope of deliverance from his life of sin was a thorough regenera- 
tion of heart and life through Christ. He became alarmed at the condition of 
affairs and commenced to pray earnestly for deliverance. Samuel Bear visited 
him in his distress, prayed with him and encouraged him to pray on until he 
was saved. He was converted to God while praying in his front yard. He 
quit drinking, but he became sick and sent for Dr. Bishop, of Manchester, who 
treated him, and among the prescriptions that he gave him one was rum soup. 
This latter he refused to take, saying that he would rather die sober if he must 
die at this time. He recovered and lived sixteen years yet to bless the com- 
munity with his godly life. 

Under the leadership of Samuel Bear and John Shelly prayer-meetings 
were established in the community which were well attended and spiritual in 
their character. Among the converts at these meetings were Jacob Cockley, 
John Dessenberger, John Brua, and others, most of whom belonged to 
Hoover's Church at Starview. 

George Ringer, a member of the Lutheran Church, who professed to be 
a converted man, led the prayer-meetings for a time, but when the brethren 
shouted God's praise and when the new-born souls exhibited the joys of a 
new life, he expressed his displeasure. He cried out in the midst of the 
services, "Brethren, there is too much Unordnung (disorder), too much noise. 
The devil can's stay here with you." To this latter remark Samuel Bear cried 
out amen. The preacher at Starview, a Rev. Mr. Garman, was favorable to 
prayer-meetings, and he attended several of these meetings, but they became 
too noisy for him too. He then denounced these meetings in his church in a 
two-hour's sermon, and warned his people not to attend them. But this ser- 
mon only seemed to help the good cause along, and the prayer-meetings 
were continued in John Shelly's spring-house and in the private homes of the 
people in the community with good results. Samuel Bear now became the 
leader of these services. He was one of the most useful and highly re- 
spected laymen in all the neighborhood, who lived to be quite old. Rev. 
John Haney, of Winterstown, came into this community and organized these 
converts into a class or church in 1 840. Among those who united with the 
church was Samuel Peters, a quarterly conference preacher of the Evangelical 
Association, who had moved here and who was a good man. 

The membership of the church grew with the passing years as they were 
served with regular preaching by the pastors of York Circuit. At a quarterly 
conference held at a campmeeting near Dover August 7, 1850, the following 
brethren were elected trustees with a view of building a church in what was 
known as the Dessenberger neighborhood : Jacob Cockley, F. Holder and 



182 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

Daniel Fisher. The church was erected about two miles east of Mount Wolf 
during the same year, and named "Jerusalem Church." Rev. William Wag- 
ner was the presiding elder and Rev. J. S. Wentz was the preacher in charge. 
Among the early converts in this church were Mectilas Knaub and his wife, 
who at this writing are still living at a great age and patiently waiting for the 
chariot of God. This building was destroyed by fire early in the year 1856, 
and was rebuilt during the same year. It was dedicated to God on Sunday, 
June 22, 1856, by Rev. W. B. Raber, assisted by Revs. Henry Brown and 
J. R. Green. This building is still standing, and the work of soul-saving is 
carried on in it under the pastorate of Rev. A. C. Crone. 



MOUNT WOLF CHURCH 

Mount Wolf is a prosperous borough on the Northern Central Railway, 
one-half mile northeast of Manchester and seven miles from York. In 1852 
the firm of Adam Wolf & Sons opened a store here, and started a coal and 
lumber yard. The business was continued under this firm until 1 863, when 
William W. Wolf, one of the sons, was elected sheriff of York County, and 
removed to York in November of this year. He died while in office. Adam 
Wolf, his father and senior member, retired from business. After this George 
H. Wolf became the sole proprietor, and did an extensive and prosperous 
business. After Mount Wolf had become a business centre, the people com- 
menced to erect houses in it. The town was laid out in 1867 by Samuel 
Hoff, on an area of thirty acres, with 1 65 lots, from a survey made by Daniel 

Ettinger, of York. When George H. Wolf re- 
tired, his two sons, George A. Wolf and Henry 
Wolf took up the business and are still carry- 
ing it on with commendable success. 

A number of families living in Mount 
Wolf belonged to our church in Manchester, 
where our people worshiped in the union 
church. In the year 1870 Peter Mathias was 
Mount Wolf Church and Parsonage the class leader among our people, and he 

wanted the members who lived in Mount 
Wolf to withdraw from the Manchester class and organize a class in the new 
town, as the members from the two villages did not seem to get along very 
well together, and the leader did not seem to have much love for the mem- 
bers in Mount Wolf. Just before the annual election of church officers was 
to take place he said to the class : "If the Mount Wolf brethren don't with- 
draw from the Manchester class, don't elect me class leader." The brethren 
in Mount Wolf took the hint and organized a class among themselves early 
in the year 1870. Then they began to agitate the importance of building a 
church in the town. A frame church, about 30 x 50 feet in size, was started 
in the fall of that year. The corner-stone was laid by Rev. W. B. Raber, and 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



183 



the services incident thereto were held in George H. Wolf's barn. The com- 
pleted church was dedicated to God June 4, 1871, by Rev. W. B. Raber, as- 
sisted by Revs. H. A. Schlichter and W. H. Craumer, the pastor in charge. A 
few years later a frame parsonage was built on the corner by the side of the 
church. 

Among the first members here were Samuel Bear, Henry Hoff, Charles 
Diehl, John Spahr and Daniel Rodes, 
together with their wives. Great revivals 
were held in this church, and many of 
the children and grandchildren of these 
first families, together with the Wolfs, 
Kunkles, Westhafers, Melhorns, Fitzkees 
and other influential people were added 
to the church. The church was repaired 
under the writer's pastorate in the spring 
of 1884, at a cost of $250. In 1892, 
under the pastorate of Rev. D. W. Sol- 
lenberger, the church was more exten- 
sively remodeled at a cost of $1,300. 
The old tower was removed from the 
top of the building and a new one was 
built at the front from the ground up. 

The vestibule was torn out, and the en- 

• 

tire structure was improved and beauti- 
fied. It was reopened for divine services 
in the month of August, 1 892, by Bishop 

N. Castle, D.D. Rev. W. H Washinger, D.D. 

Nothing was done to this church after this until the year 1906, when it 
was practically rebuilt, making it a modern building throughout, with excellent 
facilities for better work than ever before. This was done under the pastorate 
of Rev. A. B. Mower at a cost of $4,100. It was reopened for services De- 
cember 16, 1906, by Bishop J. S. Mills, D.D., assisted by Revs. W. H. Wash- 
inger, D.D., presiding elder of the conference, and A. B. Mower, the pastor in 
charge. This is one of the most flourishing congregations in all its depart- 
ments for a small country town to be found in the conference. Its pastor for 
the last three years was Rev. J. R. Hutchison, who, on account of throat 
trouble, has been compelled to retire from the active ministry at the last 
session of the annual conference, after a long and most useful career. 




SPRY CHURCH 

Innersville, now known as Spry, is located about three miles southeast of 
York. The first preaching in the town was done in an old school-house 
about the year 1858, by Rev. F. F. Hagen, pastor of the First Moravian Church 
in York. Under his faithful ministry a few persons were won to Christ. Mrs. 



184 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

Elias Whitecamp, the mother of Mrs. John Keech, was the first convert. Some 
time before her conversion a daughter of hers had died, and she became 
very much alarmed because she was not prepared to die. At this time of 
her great distress a colporteur, who was a good Christian man, happened to 
come to her home, to whom she mentioned something of her trouble. He 
exhorted her to repent and to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. This timely- 
visit upon the part of the stranger sent of God, and his words of counsel 
effected her salvation. Rev. F. F. Hagen was not able to preach here more 
than only occasionally on account of his work in York, which claimed nearly 
all his time and attention. Prayer-meetings were then commenced in private 
houses, which were held regularly for years with good results. No minister 
was present to conduct them, but one of their own number would perform 
this duty as well as he could, each taking his turn in leading the meetings. 
This arrangement was satisfactory among them, and in these services many- 
persons were won to Christ ; among them were Henry Wineka, John Keech, 
Israel Miller and other influential citizens of the community. About the year 
1860 Rev. J. C. Smith, pastor of our First Church in York, commenced to 
preach here occasionally with good results. The pastors of York Circuit then 
took up the appointment as a regular preaching place in 1 862, using the old 
school-house to hold the services in, which had been built and paid for by 
the community before the common school system had been inaugurated. 

Early in the spring of 1870 a converted Jew conducted a great revival 
meeting in the school-house, in which many persons professed to have been 
saved. Rev. A. H. Rice, who was sent at this time to York Circuit as a junior 
preacher with Rev. Peter Corl, now came to the town and commenced to 
co-operate with the Jew preacher in promoting the interests of the revival 
then in progress. They worked well together. About the time the meetings 
came to a close Brother Rice formed these converts into a class, which has 
enjoyed a continued prosperous existence until now. 

The old school-house "was an old affair and hardly fit for use," and on 
the week following the reception of members into the church, Rev. A. H. 
Rice, assisted sometimes by Henry Wineka and Herman Whitecamp, can- 
vassed the whole neighborhood soliciting funds for the purpose of building 
a church. The young preacher was only a quarterly conference preacher, 
but he had the push and pluck of a man of some experience in the work, and 
he was determined to win out in this his first venture in building a new 
church where he thought he had an opportunity to do so. He had secured 
over $800 in cash and subscriptions, bought the lot, appointed a board of 
trustees, had the deed drawn up and paid for, and contracted with a con- 
tractor in York to build a frame church, 34x42 feet in size, for $950 from 
the top of the wall ; all this without the regular procedure of a quarterly con- 
ference anywhere. At the first quarterly conference of the year, held in the 
old union church near Windsor, Brother Rice's acts were ratified by that 
body, and the church building enterprise was pushed to its completion. The 
trustees that had been appointed were William Wineka, Henry Wineka and 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 185 

Herman Whitecamp, who worked hard to complete the church. The lot was 
bought from Henry Grothe for $25, and the deed for it is dated April 19, 
1870. The total cost of the ground, building and furnishings was about 
$1,300. It was dedicated to God in the month of August, 1870, by Bishop 
J. Weaver, D.D. A debt of $250 remained on the church for some years, 
which was allowed to increase by the accumulation of interest on it until the 
year 1 886. Early in this year the church was repaired under the pastorate 
of Rev. S. N. Moyer, and it was formally reopened for services September 
5, 1886. The entire debt was provided for on this occasion, and the congre- 
gation started on a new era of prosperity. 

The building of a new church was agitated in the year 1895, under the 
pastorate of Rev. R. R. Rodes, who had started a subscription with a view of 
building it up along the turnpike. For various reasons the church was not 
built at that time, but this move prepared the way to build it two years 
later. 

The new church was built in 1897, on the site of the old one and upon 
its foundation, and is therefore of the same size, except that an addition of 
1 8 x 24 feet has been attached to the west end. This room is separated from 
the main room by a movable partition. An entrance tower and steeple is 
built in the southwest angle of the building, in which swings a thousand-pound 
McShane bell. The corner-stone of the church was laid on Sunday, August 
15, 1897, by Rev. C. A. Burtner, Ph.D., presiding elder, assisted by Revs. H. 
B. Spayd, J. R. Hutchison, I. H. Albright and J. P. Koontz. The church was 
built under the pastorate of Rev. J. P. Koontz, who worked hard to accom- 
plish the task, and who has established quite a reputation as a builder of 
churches and parsonages throughout his ministry. The trustees who were 
back of this work were Henry Wineka, William Wineka, Isaac Berger, Moses 
Aubel, Albert Wineka, H. G. Stabley and William H. Rider. The total cost 
of the building was $3,000. H. G. Yessler, of York, was the architect, and 
the building committee consisted of H. G. Stabley, Rev. J. P. Koontz, W. H. 
Rider and Albert Wineka. The memorial and other windows are very beau- 
tiful and cost $325. Their total weight is 2,285 pounds. They were made 
by Haman & Hauk, of Harrisburg. The church was dedicated to God on 
Sunday, December 5, 1897, by Bishop E. B. Kephart, D.D., assisted by Rev. 
J. L. Grim, presiding elder, and Rev. J. P. Koontz, the pastor in charge. The 
church is in a flourishing condition under the pastorate of Rev. C. S. Crabill. 



RED LION CHURCH 

The thriving town of Red Lion was laid out in 1876 by Mrs. Catherine 
Myers. It is located about ten miles southeast of York, 892 feet above sea 
level. It was named after a tavern by the name of "Red Lion," which was a 
characteristic old-time inn, with a picture of a lion painted red on the swing- 
ing sign of the house. Tradition says the lion was not a voracious one that 



186 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



scared away the thirsty visitors, but a mild and peaceful sort of a fellow with 
an inviting look. 

The town did not thrive well until it was incorporated in the year 1 880. 
Matthew Gable, a most aggressive member of our church, built the first house 

here after the town was laid out. Since 
then the town has grown rapidly, and now 
has about 2,000 inhabitants. The brethren 
had been preaching around this town for 
many years. The quarterly conference of 
York Circuit, held in Spry February 18, 
1 882, appointed Matthew Gabel and Dan- 
iel Weaver a committee to "look up a 
preaching place in Red Lion borough," and 
also to try to secure a lot for a church. Rev. 
L. Kohr acted as presiding elder pro tern at 
this conference, and Rev. G. W. Lightner 
was pastor in charge. In the spring of 1 882 
Rev. L. Kohr was sent to York Circuit, and 
on Saturday evening of April 1 3, in the 
same year, he preached his first sermon in 
the town in William Spangler's carpenter 
shop. The brethren had also selected a 
lot for a church. Brother Kohr went to see 
it, and when he came to the town he met 
Henry Wallick, proprietor of the Wallick 
House. He was no professor of religion, 
and was regarded as being a rough and 
outspoken man, but he told Mr. Kohr that 
no church ought to be built on an alley 
where all kinds of objectionable out-houses might be built. He offered to 
sell a good lot for a church, centrally located on Main Street, 80 feet front 
and extending back to the alley for $150. This lot was bought at the price 
named, a subscription was started, and when $470 had been secured in this 
way, the church building was commenced. This action upon the part of the 
brethren was ratified at a quarterly conference held in Dallastown April 1 5, 
1 882, Rev. L. Peters, presiding elder, presiding. At this meeting the trustees 
for the church were elected as follows : J. R. Green, Matthew Gabel and 
Samuel Sprenkle, who were also constituted the building committee. The 
stone for the foundation wall was furnished by John A. Snyder. The corner- 
stone was laid June 22, 1882, by Rev. J. C. Smith. A frame church was 
built, 32x55 feet in size, eighteen feet high to the square, surmounted by a 
tall tower and a bell. It cost $2,000, including the lot. 

Before the building was quite completed Matthew Gabel, who was the 
leading spirit in pushing this enterprise, fell over and died while engaged in 
fitting on a pair of shutter hinges to a window frame. Heart failure was the 




■1 



Red Lion Church 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 187 

cause of his death. Shortly after this the church was completed, and it was 
dedicated to God on Sunday, November 26, 1882, by Rev. L. Peters, presid- 
ing elder, assisted by Rev. L. Kohr, pastor in charge. After the dedication of 
the church the meeting was protracted, resulting in twenty-six conversions, 
out of which the church was organized on February 1 0, 1 883, with J. A. Gohn, 
now a prominent minister in the conference, as the leader. 

The church here has enjoyed great prosperity throughout the years, but 
the trustees and members had quite a struggle until the debt on the church 
was paid. Brother Gabel's sudden death, occurring just at the time it did, 
was a severe financial loss to them. The debt was finally paid, but the lot 
by the side of the church, and even the ground at the rear of the church had 
to be sacrificed to help lift the debt. Therefore, when the necessity for a 
larger church was forced upon the congregation and they could not buy back 
any of the ground they had sold, they were compelled to re-locate. In the 
spring of 1897 a lot for a new church was bought about one square away 
from the old church from Clinton Hess for $800. The erection of this build- 
ing was begun early in the spring of 1878, and pushed to completion by the 
indomitable energy of the pastor, Rev. J. R. Jones, ably assisted by the fol- 
lowing building committee : William Lichtenberger, Fred Smith, S. Eisen- 
baugh, J. W. Strayer, D. W. Horn, David Smith and C. H. Keener. The 
church is a substantial brick structure, 57 x 83 feet in size, in three apartments, 
which can be thrown into one commodious auditorium. It can accommodate 
from eight hundred to one thousand people. It is a modern building, with a 
massive tower, containing a large McShane bell and the town clock. Its total 
valuation is $ 1 0,400. 

The church was dedicated to God on Sunday, January 15, 1898, by 
Bishop E. B. Kephart, D.D., assisted by Rev. J. L. Grimm, presiding elder, and 
Revs. J. P. Koontz and J. Lower Grimm. A large pipe-organ has since been 
built in the church at a cost of $2,000. During 1904-05 -a fine brick parson- 
age was built under the pastorate of the late Rev. S. N. Moyer, costing $3,500. 
The pastors of this church since 1 898 were as follows: Revs. J. R.Jones, 
1898-99-1900-01 ; W. H. Weaver, 1902 to October, 1903; S. N. Moyer, 1903- 
04-05-06; J. E. Kleffman, D.D., 1907-08-09—. 



SECOND CHURCH, YORK 

On January 22, 1873, Rev. W. B. Raber, who was then pastor of the 
First Church in York, bought of a Mr. Schenck a house and lot for parsonage 
and church purposes on the corner of Duke and South Streets, York. The 
lot had a frontage of eighty-six feet on Duke Street and seventy-nine feet on 
South Street, on which a good two-storied brick house was standing away 
from the corner. Brother Raber bought this property on his own responsi- 
bility for $4,000. The annual conference, held in Shippensburg in February, 



188 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

1873, concluded to start a second church in this town, although this action 
was opposed by some of its leading members. The action was passed and 
Rev. J. H. Young was sent as the pastor of this new mission. At a quarterly 
conference held in the First Church on Saturday evening, March 8, 1873, a 
board of trustees was elected to take charge of the property, Rev. Z. A. 
Colestock, presiding elder, presiding. On Monday, March 10, 1873, the 
trustees unanimously agreed to take the property that Rev. Raber had bought 
off his hands, and also made arrangements to secure money to make the first 
payment on the same. A clear title to the property was secured April 
5, 1873. 

On March 24, 1873, the contract for a new frame church, 36x50 feet in 
size, was given out. The work on the building was commenced about the 
first of May. In the meantime a Sunday School was organized in the house 
intended for the parsonage on the first Sunday of April, with the following 
officers : George Crone, superintendent ; Henry Eberly, secretary ; Christian 
Houseman, librarian. The new church was dedicated to God on Sunday, 
September 1 7, 1873, by Revs. E. Light and C. T. Stearn, D.D., assisted by the 
pastor, Rev. J. H. Young. The building cost $1,070. When the congrega- 
tion was organized twenty members from the First Church were transferred 
to this mission, and at the end of the first year Brother Young reported 64 
members. The congregation grew gradually and slowly. Some years it met 
with great success, and then with reverses, and yet it had been served by 
some of the best men in the conference. It was a mission for more than 
twenty years, so long, indeed, that it received the name of "an everlasting 
mission." About the year 1 880 the wisdom of continuing this work was 
doubted by many of the leading men of the conference. Some years later it 
was still questioned. Our churches in Woodbury, now North Baltimore, Md., 
and in Hanover, Pa., were also of slow growth. These three churches, each 
with difficulties peculiarly its own, presented problems to the conference that 
were difficult to solve. They were for years a heavy drain on our mission- 
ary funds. 

At a camp-meeting held on Jefferson Circuit about the year 1 880 or 1 88 1 
these three churches and their needs were brought up at an open meeting for 
special prayers by their respective pastors, Revs. J. C. Smith, J. C. Crider and, 
I think, J. R. Hutchison. A crisis seemed to have come in their history, and 
here the Christian people agreed to pray unitedly to God for help. Rev. A. 
Rudisil, an aged and devout man of God, was called upon to lead in prayer. 
In part he prayed in the German language as follows, as near as we can recall 
it : "O Lord, we come before thee upon this occasion to pray especially for 
these three churches, of whose pressing needs their pastors have spoken. 
They come here and earnestly request us to help them with our united pray- 
ers. Now, O Lord, we come to thee for help. Here is Woodbury, one of 
our most successful missions in the work of saving souls, but they are all very 
poor. They have the people, many members, but they have no money. O 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 189 

Lord, give them money. Here also is Hanover, where we have a very small 
congregation of wealth, as Auntie Lohr is able and willing to support the 
work most liberally, but where we have no people. O Lord, come to the 
help of Hanover and send to them the people. Then here also is York Second 
Church, which is in the worst predicament of all. O Lord, have mercy on 
this church as it has neither money nor people. O Lord, come to the special 
help of this church and give it both money and people, for his name's sake, amen." 
This characteristic prayer of Brother Rudisil's was answered in due time, and 
all these congregations have grown and prospered. In 1 894 York Second 
Church ceased to be a mission. 

In the meantime, in 1 89 1 , a subscription was started under the pastorate 
of Rev. H. A. Schlichter, with a view of building a new church. It was built 
during the following year, under the pastorate of Rev. C. A. Burtner, Ph.D., at 
a cost of $8,711.26. This was considered by many at the time an almost 
impossible task, but it was done, and well done. It is a substantial brick 
structure, 54 x 72 feet in size, and was dedicated to God on Sunday, January 
1 0, 1 892, by Bishop E. B. Kephart, D.D., assisted by the writer, who was then 
a presiding elder, and Rev. Dr. C. A. Burtner, pastor in charge. The congre- 
gation continued to grow under Rev. Dr. C. T. Stearns long pastorate until 
1 906, when under the pastorate of Rev. A. R. Ayers the church was enlarged 
and remodeled to supply the needs of the growing congregation and Sunday 
School. An additional plot of ground was bought on the south side of the 
church for $1,600, to enable them to effect this enlargement. The total cost 
of these improvements was $3,504, and they now have one of the finest 
auditoriums in the city. The church was reconsecrated to God on Sunday, 
September 2, 1906, by Bishop T. C. Carter, D.D., assisted by Rev. W. H. 
Washinger, D.D., presiding elder of the conference. The parsonage was also 
improved at this time, bringing the total valuation of the property here up to 
$20,000, all paid for. The Mite Society and the Sunday School were most 
efficient helpers in this work. 

The following is a list of the pastors of this church : Revs. J. H. Young, 
March, 1873, to March, 1875 ; A. H. Rice, 1875-76; J. C. Smith, 1877-78-79- 
80-81; H. B. Dohner, 1882-83; C. A. Burtner, 1884-85-86; J.T.Shaffer, 1887- 
88-89; H. A. Schlichter, 1890; C. A. Burtner, a second time, 1891-92-93; C. 
T. Steam, D.D., 1894-95-96-97-98-99-1900-01; A. R. Ayers, 1902-03-04-05-06- 
07-08-09-10. 



THIRD CHURCH, YORK 

At a quarterly conference held in the First Church December 5, 1886, by 
Presiding Elder A. H. Rice, the question of providing more room for the 
Sunday School was seriously discussed, as the room was too much crowded 
to accommodate it properly. At this point in the proceedings Jacob Allison, 
a member of the conference, thought it would relieve the situation here if we 



190 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



■would organize another Sunday School somewhere on the west side, and 
then proposed to donate his whip factory on West Princess Street for church 
and Sunday School purposes. He said it would be ready for the organization 
of a school in about four months. This offer was accepted at once with 
thanks. In a few days he reconsidered his offer and made a better one, 
namely, to donate a lot on West Princess Street and build a new church upon 
it, in memory of his deceased son, without any cost to the church. This he 
proceeded to do. The trustees of the First Church were constituted the trus- 
tees of this one by action of the quarterly conference. The corner-stone of 
this church was laid on Good Friday, April 8, 1887, by Rev. A. H. Rice, pre- 
siding elder, assisted by Revs. A. H. Shank, G. W. Kiracofe, J. T. Shaffer and 
the writer, who was pastor in charge. The church is built of brick and is 
40 x 65 feet in size, and cost $4,000. It was dedicated to God as the Allison 
Memorial Church on Sunday, October 1 6, 1 887, by Bishop E. B. Kephart, D.D., 
who preached a very impressive sermon from Zech. 14: 6, 7, 8. He was 
assisted by Revs. A. H. Rice, presiding elder, J. T. Shaffer, J. P. Smith and 
the writer. Revs. S. N. Moyer, F. Grimm and W. H. Craumer were also in 
attendance. 

On Friday, October 21, 1 887, a meeting was held in the new church under 
the direction of the writer to organize a Sunday School. The following offi- 
cers were elected: Benjamin Allison, president; 
P. Z. Strine, superintendent; C. C. Kottcamp, 
assistant superintendent, who resigned, and Ed- 
ward Crone was then elected ; George Stallman, 
secretary; Jacob Allison, treasurer; S. J. Metzel 
and W. P. Yeatts, librarians ; and D. W. Crider, 
John Berkheimer and Fred Bartels, trustees. The 
school met in its first session on Sunday, October 
23, 1887, with 101 scholars. The congregation 
was organized on Sunday, February 1 9, 1 888, 
by the writer with the following as charter mem- 
bers: E. S. Crone and C. Z. Denues, leaders; A. 
H. Henise and W. P. Yeatts, stewards; P. Z. 
Strine, Jacob Allison, Euphemia Strine, Maggie 
Strine, Bertha Stallman, Jennie Yeatts, Eliza En- 
terline, Marion Long, Sarah Long, Clara Newbold, 
Delilah Allison, Sadie Denues, Kate Denues, E. G. Eyster, Rebecca Eyster, Ella 
Allison, Catherine Allison, Benjamin Bahn, Amanda Bahn, Fred. Bartels, Merillis 
Bartels, Henry Alexander and Matilda Allison. 

At the annual conference of 1888 Rev. J. P.Smith was sent to this church 
as its first pastor, under whom the church prospered. In 1893, under the 
pastorate of Rev. J. R. Jones, an addition of twenty-five feet was built at the 
rear end of the church ; the building was also papered and painted, and 
electric lights were put into it, all at a cost of $1,400. It was reopened for 




Jacob Allison 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 191 

services on Sunday, October 15, 1893, by Bishop J. Weaver, D.D. In 1895 
the splendid brick parsonage by the side of the church was bought for $2,200, 
under the pastorate of Rev. J. R. Hutchison. During the year 1904, under 
the pastorate of Rev. A. H. Rice, the church was extensively remodeled and 
beautified at a cost of $3,300. The congregation and Sunday School are in a 
flourishing condition under the pastorate of Rev. L. W. Stangle. 

The following is the list of the pastors of this church: Revs. J. P. Smith, 
1 888-89-90-9 1 , who died here January 12, 1892; J. R.Jones, 1892-93-94; J. 
R. Hutchison, 1895-96-97-98; J. P. Anthony, 1 899-1900-01 ; A. H. Rice, 
1902-03, to October, 1904; R. R. Rodes, 1904-05-06-07; W. J. Houck, 1908; 
L. W. Stangle, 1909—. 



DILLSBURG CIRCUIT CHURCHES 

The following facts we secured from Rev. W. H. Weaver. The territory 
operated by the United Brethren Church in the vicinity of Dillsburg was in- 
cluded in the York Spring Circuit for a period of thirty-four years, ending 
with the annual conference session at Greencastle in 1887. Prior to 1853 
the charge was known as the Franklin Circuit, and it was first organized at an 
annual conference held in Mower's Church, in Franklin County, February 
28, 1849. 

Rev. J. C. Smith and Rev. Z. A. Colestock were the pastors on the Lit- 
tlestown Circuit during the conference year of 1846-47. It was a large charge, 
but these faithful ministers enlarged the circuit by adding new appointments 
to it. They pushed the work into the northeastern section of Adams County, 
and held a revival meeting in the Blackberry school-house, which was located 
near the York County line. At the annual conference in session at Hershey's 
Church, in Cumberland County, Pa., March 1 1, 1847, the Rev. John Fohl was 
assigned to the Littlestown charge, on which he labored for two years. Dur- 
ing his pastorate at Littlestown he pushed the work beyond the Blackberry 
school-house appointment, and established new appointments in the northern 
portion of York County. 

The first United Brethren appointment in northern York County was 
established at "Mumper's school-house," in Franklin township. This school- 
house was located about one mile west from the place where the union church 
is standing, and on the road that diverges from the mountain road at the union 
meeting-house. Soon after this Rev. John Fohl was accorded the privilege of 
conducting religious meetings in the home of Michael Kinter, one mile and a 
half east of the Mumper school-house, and also in the home of Abraham Lau, 
on the state road near the Franklin Church. These two families opened 
their houses to Rev. Fohl, and entertained the "converted preacher" when 
many other folks were ready to stone the minister had they not feared 
the law. 



192 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

An appointment was established near Franklintown during the year 
1 848 in a log school-house, and it was during this year that Garret Baish and 
his wife Susan Baish, and Mary Ditmer were admitted into fellowship with 
the United Brethren Church. These persons formed the nucleus of the first 
United Brethren church organized in the northern portion of York County. 
At the close of the conference year 1 848-49, the Franklintown class, including 
several appointments in the community and several appointments in Adams 
County, were constituted a mission, and the church records indicate that at 
that time there were only thirty-five or forty members within the territory 
embraced in the charge. Rev. John Fohl was reappointed pastor for the 
conference year commencing February 28, 1849. During the year he con- 
ducted revival meetings and established new appointments on the Franklin 
Mission, as there was opportunity to do so. Among those who were con- 
verted and admitted to church fellowship in York County during this year we 
find the names of Elizabeth Baish, Joseph Brenneman, Henry Ditmer, Eliza- 
beth Coulson, D. M. Heiges and Valentine Elicker. Rev. John Fohl's pasto- 
rate ended at the annual conference of 1 85 1 . 

Rev. S. Enterline was assigned to the mission at the conference of 1 85 1 . 
On the 1 4th day of June of this year Gardner's Church was dedicated, Rev. 
J. C. Smith, presiding elder, officiating. This church is located in Adams 
County, near Latimore, in the community of the Blackberry school-house, in 
which a revival was promoted in 1846-47, by Revs. J. C. Smith and Z. A. 
Colestock. Another meeting-house was erected in Franklintown and dedi- 
cated to God December 13, 1852, by Rev. J. C. Smith, presiding elder. This 
was the first United Brethren church in the northern portion of York County. 
During Rev. Enterline's pastorate on this mission there was a great spiritual 
awakening in the northern portion of York County. Many people became 
interested in religious matters and invited the praying people to their homes 
to hold prayer-meetings. These meetings were greatly blessed with spiritual 
power, and often extended far into the night before they could be brought to 
a close. The people were happy in the Lord, often loudly shouted praise 
unto the Lord. At a prayer-meeting in the home of Michael Kinter, in Frank- 
lin County, Henry Bender and his brother Christian Bender began to seek 
the Lord. Henry Bender was converted on second Christmas day, 1 85 1 . At 
another prayer-meeting in the home of Mr. Heighes, near the union church, 
the Spirit of God wrought mightily, and here the sisters of Henry Bender be- 
gan to seek the Lord. Michael Arnold resided in Carroll township, and he 
became interested in this great religious movement, and opened his home for 
prayer services. Several were saved in this home during these early prayer- 
meetings, and among those who sought the Lord were his children. 

At a great revival at Bentz's school-house, in Warrington township, con- 
ducted by Rev. S. Enterline, the Airland people, the Blackford people, the 
Arnold people, Henry Kinter, William Beitzel and others were converted and 
joined the United Brethren Church, 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 193 

On the 5 th day of August, 1854, there was a meeting of the United 
Brethren people and others at Bentz's school-house, at which time a constitu- 
tion was adopted designed to govern those who worshiped at the school- 
house. This likely was preparatory to occupying the Mount Zion Church, 
which was erected during the year 1854 at a cost of $845.42. The constitu- 
tion was in force a little while, probably not later than May 6, 1856, at which 
time the property was conveyed to the United Brethren people. The work 
of grace spread rapidly over the country bordering on the South Mountain. 
At the conference in session in York County January 21, 1858, it was reported 
that on the York Spring Circuit there were seventeen appointments, nine or- 
ganized classes, four church houses and 253 members. The circuit was about 
thirty miles long and ten or twelve miles wide. It included Cocklin's ap- 
pointment, the Lisburn appointment, both in Cumberland County, Filey's in 
Monaghan, Troutwine's, Red School-house in Carroll ; Mount Zion, in War- 
rington ; Franklintown, and perhaps one or two other appointments in York 
County, and a number of appointments in Adams County, north and east of 
the Conewago creek. At the annual conference in session January 21, 1858, 
the appointments in Cumberland County were detached from the charge, and 
at the following conference all the appointments in Adams County were de- 
tached from the charge, except Hampton, Bottom School-house, East Berlin 
and Gardner's. These appointments, together with the several churches and 
appointments in northern York County, constituted the York Spring Circuit 
until a meeting of the annual conference at Greencastle in 1887, at which 
time the appointments in York County were detached from York Spring 
charge and constituted the Dillsburg Circuit. 

Michael Arnold erected the Dogwood Spring Church in 1856. It was 
located one mile west of Dillsburg, and in the year 1 865 he conveyed the 
church and property to the United Brethren Church. A Sunday School was 
organized in the Beavertown school-house in the year 1850. Lewis Bender 
was the first superintendent. Soon after the Dogwood Springs Church was 
completed the Sunday School was transferred to this meeting-house, and for 
a period of sixty years this Sunday School has been in operation, and during 
a period of perhaps forty years it opened every Sabbath, summer and winter, 
except when the weather was too inclement. This is known now as the 
Arnold's United Brethren Sunday School. 

Bender's class was organized in Bender's cooper shop, a mile west from 
the Dogwood Springs Church, in the year 1862. Dr. D. Eberly was the pastor 
at that time. This class was transferred to the Dogwood Springs Church in 
1865, and since then has been known as the Arnold class. The church 
was rebuilt during the year 1880, and named Arnold's United Brethren 
Church. 

Chestnut Grove class was organized September 1 6, 1 864, and worshiped 
in a neat little church located about two miles east of Dillsburg. It was the 
outgrowth of the earlier appointments at Filey's, Troutwine's and the Red 
School-house. 



194 



LANDMARK HISTORY 



Calvary Church was erected in Dillsburg during the year 1 894, and dedi- 
cated to God in the month of March, 1895, by Bishop J. S. Mills, D.D., in 
connection with an annual conference in session in the church at this time. 
A splendid parsonage was erected also during 1894 at a cost of $2,500. The 
charge at present consists of four congregations, with a membership of 265, 
and a property valued at $13,500. 



THE END 




SCRAPS OF LANDMARK HISTORY 



CONCERNING 



%ht \huUh Brethren tn Christ 



FOUND IN 
VARIOUS PARTS OF 

"(The Original territory 

INCLUDING 

PLACES, PERSON'S AND FAMILIES 

HOMES, CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS 

WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 

BY 

C. I. B. BRANE 



|Jr£fara 




|N presenting the following matter in the form of book 
literature I am doing what was not originally thought 
of. Some of the material I had prepared for other forms 
of publication, magazines, newspapers and pamphlets, 



and now present it in this revised and condensed form for perma- 
nent preservation. As to the character of the work put on this 
matter I have nothing to say ; but concerning the value of the raw 
material I am sure it is worth saving. The ground covered by the 
following chapters is peculiarly sacred to me, because it was in or 
adjacent to parishes I have served, including my birth-place and 
childhood home, to which my heart turns with tearful tenderness 
in this October term of life. It took time, toil and money to pick 
these scraps of landmark history from the dust and debris of the 
century, for which I expect less than nothing in the shape of mate- 
rial remuneration. But the real compensation was found in the 
pursuit and enjoyment of these results, which we present in memory 
of our founders. 



d cp/a'/fl 



Christmas 
1910 



199 



United Brethren in Lebanon County 



CHAPTER I 
FIRST SETTLERS 




[BOUT the year 1719 a man by the name of John Light came 
to America from the Palatinate, Germany, and located in 
Lebanon township, Lancaster County, Pa., which is now 
Lebanon County. Some twenty-two years later he secured 
by patent the tract of land on which he had settled, and the 
same year (1 742) built a large two-story house, which served 
many purposes in those days of peril and hardships on the part of the "first 
settlers." Aside from the fact that John Light and his family lived in that 
stone structure, divine services were held in it under the auspices of the 
Mennonites, to which society Mr. Light probably belonged. Moreover, in 
seasons of peril, especially 
during the French and In- 
dian war, it became a place 
of refuge for women and 
children for many miles 
around, sheltering as many 
as sixty families at one 
time. It was originally en- 
closed by a stockade, and 
was called "The Old Fort." 
The accompanying cut was 
made from a "snap-shot" 
taken by the writer. The 
house still stands north of 
town near the bed of the The old Fort 

old Union Canal, and is occupied as a dwelling and for other purposes — 
white and black people, horses, dogs, ducks and — well, almost everything ! 

I thus refer to John Light and his old home, the former gone to his 
eternal reward, and the latter crumbling into decay, for the simple reason that 
from that source came the long list of Lights who pioneered the cause of 
United Brethrenism in Lebanon County from 1 775 to 1850. So, from Light's 
Old Fort in Lebanon to our far-off mission in the Philippines, I trace the trend 
of their godly influence in our church life and labor. 

201 




202 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



MEETING AT ISAAC LONG'S 



The history of the United Brethren Church in Lebanon County dates back 
to 1 767, when the first general meeting of "the unsectarian ministers," as our 
pioneer preachers were commonly called, was held in Isaac Long's barn, near 
Lancaster, Pa. That meeting occurred on Whitsuntide, and sustained the same 
relation to United Brethrenism that the Pentecost did to the early Christian 

church ; because on 
that occasion the 
Holy Spirit came 
in great power and 
moved men to 
speak with un- 
matched utterance 
concerning the af- 
fairs of the king- 
dom, and clothed 
them with salvation 
as with a garment. 
During his pastor- 
ate in Lancaster 
our imperial lead- 
er, William Otter- 
bein, worked his 

Isaac Long's Home • , ,i 

way into the very 
heart of the Gospel, and thus reached the state of conscious assurance re- 
specting his personal acceptance with God. With divine unction and utter- 
ance of soul never before realized, he preached the doctrine of regeneration, 
just as Jesus did to Nicodemus, and thus made it one of the fundamental 
features of our faith. Moreover, as Lancaster historically and doctrinally 
stands for the new birth in our ecclesiastical calandar, so Isaac Long's barn, 
for a similar reason, represents the source and development of our spiritual 
life and power, emphatically declaring that through the ministry of the Com- 
forter alone the children of men and the churches they establish can be trans- 
formed into the image of Jesus and adequately equipped for service. Thus 
the church was conceived in the spirit of conscious need and enjoyment con- 
cerning all the divinely-appointed resources of our redemption, including the 
preaching of the Word, the cleansing power of the blood and the ministry 
of the Holy Spirit, who takes of the things of Jesus and savingly presents 
them to the soul. By a universal law of our spiritual nature, those who look 
into the law of God are changed into the same image from glory to glory ; 
and, by the reflex influence of that same law, through which we unconsciously 
acquire the moral and spiritual qualities of those whose characters we approv- 
ingly contemplate, the man who affectionately looks into the face of Jesus is 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 203 

straightway transformed into his lovely likeness. For the transforming in- 
fluence and effect of that vision, which costs absolutely nothing in dollars and 
cents, except that which an honest man is bound to reject as the price of 
principle or manhood, one might well forego the comforts of all his physical 
faculties, suffer his eyes to be plucked out, knowing that thereby he shall see 
the King in His beauty and behold the Only Begotten of the Father, full of 
truth and grace. 

Therefore these men, realizing the peril of sin and the worth of souls, 
knew that even a lovely landscape like the Lebanon Valley, with its bound- 
less resources of material wealth, must prove a cold and barren community 
without the life-giving influence of the Sun of Righteousness in the soul of the 
settler. 

Soon after the town of Lebanon was laid out, and when most of our fair 
fields and fertile farms were still covered with forests upon which the keen 
blade of the woodman's ax had not yet been tried, and through which wild 
beasts and wilder Indians still roamed, the one often in hot pursuit of the 
other, the work of a soul-saving evangelism was organized and entered upon 
in those sections of the State already referred to, the movement being pio- 
neered by a company of plain but pious preachers, chiefly of the Mennonite 
Society, but including members of almost every other Protestant persuasion 
in the State. At that time the trend of church life, in spite of the faithfulness 
of the few ministers then employed to preach the Gospel, was largely nega- 
tive and neutral, affording little or no stimulation to spiritual enterprise. 
Moreover, this was the period immediately preceding the Revolutionary 
War, which was additionally demoralizing and detrimental to religion. Fortun- 
ately for those who have been favorably affected by United Brethrenism, the 
period of religious indifference to which I refer was broken by the great Pente- 
costal meeting at Isaac Longs to which I have already alluded, where people of 
every name and order, and from widely separate communities, met for public 
worship and religious counsel in a large barn, where Martin Boehm, a Men- 
nonite minister, preached the Gospel with such wonderful power and unction 
that hundreds were led to Christ through that simple sermon, at the close of 
which William Otterbein, a Reformed minister, tearfully took the plain 
preacher in his long arms and said : "We are Brethren." That affectionate 
utterance and fraternal scene, heard and observed by a sobbing multitude who 
occupied every inch of available space in the large building, including a 
double "barn floor," "over-shoot" and hay mows, and a large space just out- 
side the doors, suggested the appropriate name of the church, "United 
Brethren." The additional phrase, "in Christ," was accepted when the Church 
was formally organized at Frederick, Md., in 1 800. 

The Pentecostal meeting at Isaac Long's lasted several days, and was 
very largely attended. It was probably arranged for by Mr. Boehm, who was 
the Peter of that occasion, and preached a wonderful sermon. The tradi- 
tional testimony concerning the power of that sermon and the spiritual influ- 
ence of the succeeding services is that, go where you would among the 



204 LANDMARK HISTORYOFTHE 

thousands present, including representatives of all denominations, the people 
walked and talked under the influence of God's Word and Spirit. Between 
services it was a common thing to find groups of people praising God or 
pleading for mercy. The inspiration of God was upon them, and their chief 
concern was the matter of salvation. O that God would again anoint his 
people with power, and make his "ministers a flame of fire." Then would 
Zion go forth, "fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army 
with banners.'' 

The two men who affectionately embraced each other at the close of the 
sermon in Isaac Long's barn, Otterbein and Boehm, were appropriately and 
unanimously chosen bishops when the Church was formally organized thirty- 
three years later. Indeed, the culmination of the meeting at Isaac Long's was 
the organization of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. Before the 
leaders separated they held a conference in which they agreed upon a basis 
of doctrinal harmony and mutual co-operation, and made arrangements to 
enlarge the work and extend their influence much more widely, especially in 
the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. This gave new life and 
distinctive features to the revival movement, and made it almost a world-wide 
influence for good ; for we now have a communicant membership of 275,000, 
with congregations from the Atlantic to the Pacific, including missions in 
Africa, China, Japan, Porto Rico, and the Philippine Islands. 

In Lebanon County the United Brethren Church now has a membership 
of over 5,000, including more than thirty churches and one educational insti- 
tution — Lebanon Valley College. As to the ministers who originally pioneered 
the cause of United Brethrenism in Pennsylvania, four were natives of Lebanon 
County, namely : Martin Kreider, Abraham Draksel, Casper Sherk and Felix 
Light. 

In the year 1 767 four things occurred which had much to do with this 
great revival movement and the history of the United Brethren Church. The 
things to which I refer are these : the Pentecostal meeting at Isaac Long's, 
the conversion of Martin Kreider and Christian Newcomer, and the birth of 
Felix Light. Moreover, it is claimed traditionally that the three former events 
happened on Whitsuntide. The far-reaching influence of those four events 
may be inferred from the fact that the Pentecostal meeting at Isaac Long's 
resulted in plans which led to the organization of the Church, and in the con- 
version of Martin Kreider and Christian Newcomer the revival movement 
gained the co-operation of two great and gifted men. Mr. Newcomer became 
a bishop in the Church and labored more widely and abundantly than any of 
his co-laborers. As for Felix Light, he was then placed in the line of promo- 
tion, not to the same position in the Church, but to the same prominence in 
the work of the Master twenty-five years later. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



205 



REV. 



ARTIN KREIDER 



Martin Kreider stood next to Boehm and Otterbein in point of age and 
service in the Church. He was the son of John Kreider, and lived about a 
mile or two south of Lebanon, where he also died and was buried. He was 
born February 1 4, 
1740, and died 
November 14, 
1826. His remains 
lie on the old home 
farm, and his grave 
is marked by a na- 
tive limestone. His 
home was one of 
the first United 
Brethren preaching 
places in the county 
and state. Mr. 
Kreider married 
Miss Catharine 
Schmutz, who lived 
a few miles south 

~t I ~U ~ „~ J Kreider's Graveyard 

or Lebanon, and 

was a neighbor of Abraham Leroy, whose daughter, Susan, became the 

beloved wife of William Otterbein, the founder of the United Brethren in 

Christ. 




REV. ABRAHAM DRAKSEL 



Another prominent person in this great revival movement in Pennsyl- 
vania, and especially in Lebanon County, was Abraham Draksel, who stood 
next to Martin Kreider in point of age and service in the Church, and was 
born in Lebanon County in 1 753. His home was about two miles north of 
Lebanon, on the farm afterwards owned and occupied by Mr. Lewis Yingst, 
grandfather of Mrs. A. B. Schropp, where a sacramental meeting of great 
interest and power was held on the first day of May, 1 796. The meeting 
lasted several days, during which time Christian Newcomer, of Beaver Creek, 
Md., George A. Geeting, of Antietam, Md., and Martin Boehm, of Lancaster 
County, Pa., preached in "demonstration of the Spirit and of power." In 
recording the events of the meeting and the character of the services, New- 
comer says that the occasion was one of unusual interest and influence, and 
that the people present were melted to tears and moved to the endurance of 
higher motives by the preaching of the Word. As to Mr. Draksel, he did not 
preach on that occasion, because the services were held at his home, which 



206 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

was one of the first preaching places established in the county and state. 
Mr. Draksel had been an Amish minister, being born and brought up in that 
faith ; but the evangelical character of his preaching, which invariably included 
the element of regeneration, was a source of annoyance to his brethren in the 
church, who requested him to eliminate that feature from his sermons, which 
he refused to do. Finally his Amish brethren officially notified him that he 
must cease preaching; and therefore he was called "the silenced preacher." 
Of course Mr. Draksel continued the work of an evangelist, and became one 
of the most deservedly distinguished men in the ministry of the church at that 
time, because of his abundant labors, sweet spirit, Gospel sermons and blame- 
less life. He is said to have lived on a plane of Christian thought and activity 
that made his life a spiritual lighthouse and his personality a fingerboard to 
the kingdom ; and that his beaming countenance, which was lit up with an 
optimistic faith in God and the Gospel, invariably indexed an exuberance of 
spiritual joy in the prosecution of his high calling. In 1 782 he thus associated 
himself with the United Brethren Church ; and for twenty-two years thereafter 
lived and labored in Lebanon County. In 1 804 Mr. Draksel removed to the 
vicinity of Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County, Pa., where he settled with his 
family and established the church. His beautiful personality is pictured in 
these words : A lover of good men, the embodiment of hospitality, and a 
giver of much alms to the afflicted and needy. He and Martin Kreider were 
members of the first United Brethren conference, which met in Baltimore, 
Md., in 1 789. He died at his home near Mt. Pleasant, Pa., in the 73d year 
of his age. 

CASPER SHERK 

Casper Sherk was also an element of personal power in the revival move- 
ment instituted and carried forward by Otterbein and Boehm. He lived in 
Bethel township, and was a devout member of the Mennonite church; but 
when he was born from above he embraced a more spiritual experience of 
life than he formerly enjoyed, and straightway extended his sympathy and 
support to the unsectarian preachers, including their evangelistic plan and 
purpose. I think he never formally withdrew from his church, but that he 
practically identified himself with the United Brethren Church in work and 
worship there is no doubt. Retaining the warmth of personal affection for 
his early church associations, he now gave his life for the promotion of the 
spiritual welfare of the community at large, and finally found himself in fel- 
lowship with the new organization. It is said that Mr. Sherk was anxious that 
his daughter Barbara, a beautiful young lady, should marry a member of the 
Mennonite church, and to that end counseled her concerning the visits of a 
certain Felix Light, who seems to have enjoyed no church affiliations at that 
time, suggesting that she drop him for some one among several in the church 
upon whom he looked with favor. But, fortunately for all concerned, Cupid 
had started the stream of affection in the direction of young Light, and nothing 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 207 

the father could say seemed equal to the task of turning it out of that deep 
and delightful channel ; so, one Sunday morning, while Mr. and Mrs. Casper 
Sherk were at church, Mr. Felix Light came and took Miss Barbara to Ann- 
ville, where they were secretly married. In those days carriages were scarce 
and horse-back riding was common ; so young Light took Miss Sherk behind 
him on his horse, and thus consummated their matrimonial vows. Of course 
the naughty pair were forgiven by Mr. Sherk, who soon after experienced the 
comforts of saving grace, and straightway led his son-in-law, whom he now 
loved as his own child, into the light and liberty of God's dear children. 



REV. FELIX LIGHT 

Felix Light lived on the outskirts of Lebanon, where the American Iron 
and Steel Works are now located. He became a minister of the Gospel and 
one of the most able and faithful representatives that Christianity ever had. 
In his physical form and features he was the embodiment of strength and 
beauty. He was six feet and three inches in height and weighed two hundred 
and forty pounds. Moreover, his fine mental and spiritual endowments 
increased the comeliness of his personal appearance, especially in the pulpit, 
where the force of his fervor and the charm of his logic was a lifted up Christ, 
in whom he led many to exercise saving faith. When he was about forty 
years old he left the farm in the hands of his boys, and gave himself almost 
exclusively to the work of an evangelist, preaching every four weeks at Leb- 
anon, Jonestown, Kauffman's and Gingrich's, and every six weeks at Weiss', 
Sherk's Dinger's, Kendig's and Strohm's, in addition to which he had many 
special engagements and preached many funeral sermons. As a pastor he 
was faithful and efficient — wonderfully gifted and enterprising — and went 
from house to house conversing with the people concerning their spiritual 
welfare, relieving the wants of the poor, sympathizing with the afflicted, and 
thus gave counsel and comfort to all. Finally, as if to "cap the climax" of 
that great and good man's gratification of heart and life, and to multiply his 
blessed personality among the elders of Israel, God called his three sons, 
John, Casper and Joseph, into the ministry. They became leaders in religious 
thought and feeling in the county, and also extended their labors and influence 
into other communities. 

JOHN LIGHT 

Mr. "John Light, tanner," who was born in 1800 and lived in Bethel 
township, was a man of great faith and simplicity of soul, and bore in his 
body the marks of the Lord Jesus, as did Paul before him. His conversion 
was the event of his life, and placed him in the line of promotion to great 
usefulness in the community, where he lived and labored with increasing 



208 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



fidelity to the cause of pure and undefiled religion, never losing an opportu- 
nity to speak for Christ, whose witness 
he was. The realities of religion were 
embodied in his personal experience, which 
he used to relate with soul-thrilling power, 
because he spoke out of the fullness of a 
loyal, loving heart. His utterances were 
always a matter of interest to saint and 
sinner, because his godly life had the "right 
of way" in their thought and feeling. The 
people had implicit confidence in this 
"peculiar" man, who translated the cross 
into character, and exemplified the spirit 
of Jesus in all the relations of life, from 
Sunday to Sunday. When the chariot of 
Israel came for his soul he was 87 years of 
age. His remains lie in the graveyard at 
Wolfe's Meeting House, between Fred- 
ericksburg and Mt. Zion, where the sound 
of the resurrection trumpet shall find him, 
and he will come forth in the garb of a 
spiritualized adornment. Bless God for 

the triumphant resurrection of his Son ! 




JACOB WEISS 



About the year 1 800 Felix Light and his three sons, John, Casper and 
Joseph, visited the home of Mr. Jacob Weiss, near Schaefferstown, held divine 
services and arranged for regular preaching there every four weeks under the 
auspices of the United Brethren Church. From that time on till the church 
was built in Schaefferstown, the Weiss home was a regular preaching place 
for our people, and a religious centre from which radiated the light and 
influence of the Gospel for many miles around. The services were originally 
held in a frame house which was built about 1 799. But in 1820 Mr. Weiss 
built the brick structure, which still stands ; and when the family moved from 
the old frame house into the new brick dwelling, a religious service of a 
dedicatory character was held in it by Felix Light and his sons under United 
Brethren auspices. From that on for a period of fifty years the Weiss home 
was a public sanctuary, and through the influence of the services held in that 
godly home, hundreds of souls were saved from sin and finally exalted to 
heaven's eternal felicity. The house itself was well built, and the home was 
a model one. Here Mr. John Weiss, son of the builder, lived and reared a 
lovely family, most of whom became members of the church and devoted 
Christians. Judge John Weiss, of Harrisburg, Mr. Jacob S. Weiss, of Salunga, 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



209 



Mrs. Mary Reitzel, of Chicago, and the late Mrs. Elizabeth Light, wife of Mr. 
Asaph S. Light, of Lebanon, were all reared in the home of which I speak. 
One of them recently spoke 
to the writer concerning those 
early days of worship in the 
dear old home, and said, "They 
made impressions on my 
young heart and mind that 
the world can neither give nor 
take away. I would not part 
with them for anything that 
the world might offer, for they 
have been a comfort and a 
joy to me all my life. And 
those dear people who came 
to the services, the men plain- 
ly clad and the women in 
calico dresses and gingham sunbonnets, I shall meet and know in the better 
land." Bless God for these tender memories and sweet hopes ! 




The W« 



GEO 



ARK, SR 



Mr. George A. Mark, Sr., who was born in Lebanon County, Pa., on the 
6th of November, 1 790, was another man of God whose influence was widely 
felt and largely blessed to the glory of God and the salvation of souls. In 
the days of his youth, when he was only seventeen years of age, he was con- 
verted — gave his heart to God and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church ; 
but in 1 840, chiefly because he was German and the Methodist services were 
conducted in the English language exclusively, he brought his credentials to 
the United Brethren Church and opened his home for regular preaching 
services. On the 30th of January, 1817, he was married to Christianna 
Runkle, by whom he had six children, one son, Rev. Geo. A. Mark, Jr., and 
five daughters, one of whom married Rev. Samuel Etter. The influence of 
Mr. Mark's life was an unbroken expression of praise to God, and likewise a 
matter of comfort and encouragement to those who were striving to serve 
God, especially the young Christian, for whose perseverance in well-doing 
he manifested great concern. He died in Annville December 26, 1868, and 
was buried beside his wife. 



LIGHT'S MEETING HOUSE 

The first church built and occupied by the United Brethren in Lebanon 
County stood on a triangular piece of ground just north of the old Pinegrove 
road, at the intersection of Seventh and Lehman Streets, Lebanon. It is said 



210 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



that Felix Light largely built this church at his own expense, and especially 
for the United Brethren Church, with which he and his father-in-law were 
now practically identified, though the property was deeded as a Union Men- 

nonite Meeting 
House to Felix 
Light, Martin Light 
and Ab r aham 
Light. It was ap- 
propriately called 
"Light's Meeting 
House;" for the 
Lights were the 
"leading Lights" in 
the erection of the 
house, which was 
a brick structure 40 
x 60 feet, with end 

Light'. Meeting House and ^^ ^ 

doors, with graveyard extending south along Seventh Street to the Pinegrove 
road, as shown in cut. The deed was made on the 26th of May, and was 
recorded two years later. 

In 1829 one of the trustees invited Rev. John Seibert, the first bishop of 
the Evangelical Association, to preach in Light's Meeting House, because he 
thought our people were a little too quiet and "unspiritual." Rev. Seibert 
preached in the "demonstration of the Spirit and of power," but not to the 
satisfaction of a few United Brethren and Mennonites, who said that the 
shouting and jumping evoked by such preaching was an injury to the meet- 
ing house and must be stopped. But Rev. Seibert thought differently. He 
said he could not see how a brick church, standing on a limestone founda- 
tion, could be injured by a little jumping, but thought it might be detrimental 
to the frozen feelings and formal religion of those who worshiped in that 
house. 




ANNVILLE CHURCH 

The next oldest United Brethren Church was erected in Annville in 1823. 
Then there was preaching in Lebanon and Annville every four weeks by the 
pastor of Lancaster Circuit, which included appointments in Lancaster, Leba- 
non, Berks and Dauphin Counties. 

The original United Brethren Church at Annville was located near Ging- 
rich's Mill, at the west end of the town. I have heard that it was called 
"Gingrich's Church" and "Herr's Meeting House." It was 46 x 55 feet in 
size, and was built of limestone. The accompanying cut was originally drawn 
by Mr. Cornelius Smith, and is considered by those who saw and worshiped 
in the church, a perfect reproduction of the old house. Most of those who 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



2\\ 



worshiped in "Heir's Meeting House" have gone to their home on high; but 
their work and influence are em- 
bodied in a large and influential 
congregation of Christian peo- 
ple, who worship in a large, 
pleasant church in the centre of 
the town. 

Moreover, Annville is the seat 
of Lebanon Valley College, an 
institution of learning whose influ- 
ence for good is far-reaching and 
whose fame is widespread, and it 
enjoys the advantage of all that 
goes to make up the benediction 
of such an institution of learning. 
With the benefits of the College 
is included the inspiration of 
four hundred students and the 

f.i c 1, l • i hirst Church at Annville, 1823 

the faculty, which is 

large and influential. Dr. Lawrence Kiester is the president. 




SHERK'S MEETING HOUSE 



In 1825 the Mennonites built "Sherk's Meeting House," in East Hanover 
township, but the United Brethren had no interest in that church, though they 

worshiped in the 
neighborhood long 
before it was built; 
but in 1833, when 
the Mennonite pas- 
tor died and his 
people became few 
and ceased to hold 
regular services 
there, Rev. Jacob 
Erb, who baptized 
Rev. John Wine- 
brenner, the foun- 
der of the Church 
of God, was granted 
the use of the house 
for public worship, 
o, .. km . ,, ~ * an d 1S saic l to have 

Sherk s Meeting House, 1825 

organized the first 
United Brethren class that was formed east of the Susquehanna River. The 




212 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



following are the names of the original members of that class : William Run- 
kle and wife, Michael Maulfair and wife, Henry Miller and wife, Jacob Albert 
and wife, Isaiah Neidig and wife, Jacob Harper and wife, George Bomberger 
and wife, and David Winter and wife. In 1 844, seven years after the Men- 
nonites abandoned regular service there, "Sherk's Meeting House," by an act 
of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, was sold by Jacob Sherk to Jacob 
Albert, George Bomberger and Henry Neidig, trustees of the United Brethren 
in Christ. 



BRIGHTBILL'S CHURCH 



In 1 842 Brightbill's Church was built. It is located several miles south- 
west of Annville, but is not occupied by the United Brethren, who recently 

sold it to Mr. Bals- 
baugh. It is a sub- 
stantial stone struc- 
ture, one story and 
a basement, and 
very beautifully sit- 
uated. On the 4th 
of March, 1 847, the 
first separate ses- 
sion of the East 
Pennsylvania Con- 
ference was held 
in Brightbill's 
Church, Bishop 
Hanby, whose son 
"Ben" wrote "Nellie 
Gray," words and 
music, presiding. 

About this time churches were built at Schaefferstown, Kauffman's and the 
Water Works. At the latter place a frame church, which is still standing, 
was built by Jacob Heilman and Michael Seltzer, the latter assisted by his 
son Peter. 




'Brechtbill's Meaten House" 



MYERSTOWN CHURCH 

In 1 844 a one-story stone church was built on Cherry Street, in Myers- 
town, where occasional services had been previously held under United 
Brethren influences in private houses. In 1 842 Rev. Samuel Enterline was 
appointed to Lebanon Circuit, which then included Sinking Spring, Schaeffers- 
town, Fredericksburg, Myerstown and other points. After several unsuccess- 
ful efforts to secure a preaching place in Myerstown, Rev. Enterline, in the 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



213 



spring of 1 843, preached a sermon in the centre of the town, and at the close 
of the service Mr. John Daniels, who was somewhat under the influence of 
strong drink, invited the pastor to preach at his home the next time, assuring 
him of an abundant welcome. "Perhaps," said the preacher, "when you cool 
off you will not keep your promise." But the tipsy man said he would keep 
his word ; so an appointment was made for the 25th of April, 1 843, when 
Rev. Mr. Enterline spoke to a crowded house and stayed for the night with 
Mr. Daniel Meyers. During the night the preacher was sent for by Mr. and 
Mrs. John Meyers, whom he found in a state of deep distress on account of 
their sins, pleading for mercy at the throne of grace. Before morning both 
were happily converted and became the first-fruits of Mr. Enterline's ministry 
in Myerstown. At their request a three-weeks meeting Was held at their 
home, and the result was the conversion of thirty souls, including the tipsy 
man who had invited the first appointment, and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. John 
Daniels. On the 26th of October, 1843, a class of thirteen members was 
organized as follows: John Meyers, Sarah Meyers, Daniel Meyers, Catharine 
Meyers, Jonas Eckert, Nancy Eckert, John Daniels, Anna Mary Daniels, Susan 
B. Meyers, Nicholas Eckert, Daniel Meyers, Jr., Catharine Gamber and Catha- 
rine Eckert. The organization of this class led to the erection of the stone 
church already referred to; and in 1870 the present substantial brick structure 
was erected at a cost of $8,000. 

SALEM CHURCH 



In 1845, under the pastoral care of Rev. Christian Smith Kreider, grand- 
son of Rev. Martin Krei- 
der, the co-laborer of 
Boehm and Otterbein, a 
new stone church was 
erected under the aus- 
pices of the United Breth- 
ren on the southeast cor- 
ner of Ninth and Church 
Streets, Lebanon, by the 
congregation which had 
worshiped for many 
years in Light's Meeting 
House on Seventh Street, 
which nowtookthename 
of "Salem United Breth- 
ren Church." So far as 
the denomination is con- 
cerned, Salem congrega- 

• . t_ .1 L ^ 1_ Salem Church, Lebanon 

tion is the mother church 

of Lebanon County, and is probably the third or fourth that was established 




214 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

in the State, "Neidig's" Meeting House at Oberlin, Dauphin County, being the 
first— 1 795. Salem Church has included in her membership many persons of 
prominence in the business and religious affairs of the community, among 
whom were Casper Light, Abraham Sherk, William Light, Abraham Miller, 
Felix H. Light, John Kochenderfer, Jacob Light, William Hornafius, Joseph 
Zimmerman and Gideon Light, the three first mentioned being the board of 
trustees when the stone church was erected in 1845, and to whom the site 
was deeded by Michael and Elizabeth Hoag, on the 1 7th of September, 1845, 
for $200. But the growing needs of the congregation required the erection 
of a larger and more modern house of worship ; so, under the directing hand 
of Rev. H. S. Gabel, the present edifice was built at a cost of $15,000. "Old 
Salem" is large and influential, numbering about six hundred members. 

In the last decade of the eighteenth century the United Brethren had but 
one "circuit," and that extended from Lebanon to Harrisburg, and from there 
up the Cumberland Valley to Hagerstown ; thence east to Frederick, and 
from there north to Littiestown, York, Columbia, Lancaster, Sinking Spring, 
and then back to Lebanon. In making that round Christian Newcomer, 
Henry Krum, George A. Geeting, Joseph Huffman, Henry Hiestand, John 
Neidig and Felix Light preached at Martin Kreider's, Abraham Draksel's and 
in Light's Meeting House. Then, in 1825, Lebanon was an appointment on 
Lancaster Circuit, with the following preachers: Jacob Erb, 1825-26; Gideon 
Smith, 1826-27; Simon Dresbach, 1827-30; Gideon Smith, 1830-31; David 
Runx, 1832 ; Jacob Roop and John Snyder, 1833; Daniel Funkhouser, 1834 ; 
John Snyder, 1835; Christian Hershey, 1836; John Eckstein, 1837; Daniel 
Funkhouser, 1837-39. In 1840 Lebanon Circuit was formed, and Jacob Roop 
was appointed to the charge. The following year ( 1 84 1 ) Christian Peffley 
and Philip Frey were the pastors. In 1 842 Lebanon was made a station and 
John Light was the pastor from 1842-44; Christian S. Kreider, 1844-47; John 
Sand, 1848-50; Henry Schropp, 1850-53; George W. Hoffman, 1853-56; 
David Hoffman, 1856-59; John Stam and David Strickler, 1859-60. A. Steig- 
erwalt and C. J. Burket, 1860-62; J. B. Daugherty, 1862-65; Jacob H. Mark, 
1865-68; H. H. Gelbach, 1868-71; Jacob Runk, 1871-73; James Shoop, 
1873-76; E. Light, 1876-78; J. P. Smith, 1878-82; U. Gambler, 1882-85; D. 
S. Longenecker, 1885-89; H. S. Gabel, 1889-94; J. H. VonNeida, 1894-96; J. 
P. Smith, 1896-99; J. Runk and I. E. Runk, 1899-1900; J. Runk and R. R. 
Butterwick, 1900-01 ; I. H. Albright, 1901-03. 

TRINITY CHURCH 

In the course of time a new demand was made upon the United Breth- 
ren Church in Lebanon, and that was a matter of language. Up to the year 
1 860, or about that time, the services in Salem Church, and in all our churches 
throughout the county, had been conducted in the German language exclu- 
sively. But now our young people, some of whom had already gone to other 
churches, began to demand English preaching. In order to meet this new 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



215 



demand Rev. Daniel Eberly, who subsequently served Trinity Church as pas- 
tor and completed the handsome spire that adorns that structure, was asked 
to go to Lebanon and preach 
to our people there in the 
English language. But cir- 
cumstances prevented the 
consummation of this plan 
to secure the services of 
Dr. Eberly. A little later 
Rev. D. A. Tawney began 
to preach in the English 
language to our people in 
Lebanon, as did Rev. Da- 
vid Strickler also. But in 
1 866 the Annual Confer- 
ence convened in Columbia 
and appointed Rev. G. W. 
M. Rigor to co-operate with 
the Salem Church in the 
establishment of an Eng- 
lish United Brethren Church 
in Lebanon. 

So, with a membership 
of fifty-nine from old Salem, 
including J. M. Gettle, J. B. 
Rauch, Felix H. Light, Abra- 
ham Sherkand Daniel Wea- 
ver, who were the first board 
of trustees, the lot on the 
northeast corner of Ninth 
and Willow Streets was 
purchased for $5,250 ; and 
in July, 1867, the cornerstone of Trinity United Brethren Church was laid by 
Rev. W. S. H. Keys. In the spring of 1 868 the lecture and class rooms of 
the church were furnished, and formally dedicated by Bishop J. J. Gloss- 
brenner ; and on the 23d day of May, 1869, during the session of the Gen- 
eral Conference, which met in Salem Church, Bishop J. Weaver preached the 
dedicatory sermon in the auditorium. The next Sunday, May 30, 1 869, the 
balance needed to pay off the debt ($8,000) was secured, and Trinity Church 
was solemnly dedicated to the Almighty God. The handsome steeple was 
completed under the able management of Dr.- Eberly in 1876. 

In 1 900 the church and parsonage were remodeled, pavement, curb and 
gutter laid at an expense of $5,500; and one year later the congregation paid 
off a debt of $5,500 and contributed $3,000 for the purchase and placing of a 
pipe organ. The value of the church and parsonage is $40,000. The fol- 




Trinity Church and Parsonage 



216 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



lowing pastors served the congregation: 1866-70, G. W. M. Rigor; 1870-74, 
W. S. H. Keys, D.D.; 1874-76, D. Eberly, D.D. ; 1876-78, L. Peters; 1878-8l[ 
J. T. Schaeffer; 1881-85, M. P.Doyle; 1 885-89, J. W. Etter, D.D. ; 1890-94! 
C. J. Kephart, D.D. ; 1894-95, Z. A. Weidler and R. Rock, D.D. ; 1895-96, G. 
W. M. Rigor and R. Rock, D.D. ; 1896-1906, C. I. B. Brane; 1906.S. E. Rupp. 



LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE 

In 1866 the East Pennsylvania Conference, whose territory included 
Lebanon County, together with other co-operating conferences, established 

Lebanon Valley Col- 
lege at Annville. At 
that time the Church 
bought the Annville 
Academy, which was 
founded as a private 
school in 1834. It was 
turned over to the 
United Brethren in 
Christ, and from that 
day to this has been 
successfully operated 
as a Christian college. 
The first faculty con- 
sisted of Thomas R. 
Vickroy, Ph.D., John 
Krumbein, E. Benja- 
min Bierman, A.M., 
Ph.D., Miss Eliza L. 
Walker and Miss Liz- 
zie M. Rigler. 
The following men have served as presidents of the College: Thomas R. 
Vickroy, 1866-71 ; Lucian Hummond (deceased), 1871-76; David D. DeLong, 
1876-87; Edmund S. Lorenz, 1887-89; Cyrus J. Kephart, 1889-90; E. Benja- 
min Bierman, 1890-97; Hervin U. Roop, 1897-1907; A. P. Funkhouser, D.D., 
1907-8; Lawrence Kiester, D.D., 1908 to the present. 

When Dr. Bierman accepted the presidency of Lebanon Valley College 
it was in the midst of a financial crisis, the fog of which shut out the sunlight 
of hope from many loving hearts. When he was elected president of the 
College the writer was appointed to notify him of the fact and request him to 
accept the responsibility. I found him at the seashore enjoying relief from a 
remunerative occupation. 

After much deliberation and prayer he reluctantly consented to take 
charge of the school ; and for a period of seven years he bore on his brave 




Annville Academy 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



217 



heart burdens enough to bury a giant. In my judgment, he saved its life and 
placed it in the line of promotion to its present proud position of growing 
usefulness. 

Dr. H. U. Roop, who was the first alumnus of the College to occupy the 
president's chair, entered his kingdom of care and responsibility when a new 
demand was upon the College — better facilities, more room and a larger 
student interest. To these requirements he made adequate response. 

Dr. Lawrence Kiester has been at the head of the College for several 
years, and has achieved great success in his blessed work, especially in lifting 
the school out of debt. 

There is an interesting scrap of history in the fact that Annville Academy, 
instead of becoming the nucleus of an educational plant under the auspices 
of the United Brethren in Christ, came within an inch of developing into the 
institution of learning that was subsequently founded at Allentown, and called 
Muhlenburg College, and which is now successfully operated by the Evangel- 
ical Lutheran Church, whose ministers and members, associated with those of 
the Reformed Church, pioneered the cause of Christian education in Leba- 
non County. The matter of locating a Lutheran college at Annville was 
talked of in a private way, some of the main men in the academy being 
members of that church. 



REV. JOHN LIGHT 



Another interesting landmark in the line of church history is the old 
home of Rev. John Light, eldest son of Rev. Felix Light, which still stands in 
a good state of preservation a little 
north of Cumberland Street, just 
below Second. It was built many 
years ago, probably about 1825, 
and was an unusually fine dwelling 
for that day. It is substantially built 
of brick, about 30 x 60 feet, and 
two stories high. The owner of 
this manse was a man of wonderful 
resources in argument, and always 
preached with great power and 
acceptance to those who heard 
him. Moreover, he was the pastor 
of Salem United Brethren Church 
for two years, from 1 842 to 1 844. 
At that time our Salem congregation still worshiped in Light's Meeting House, 
on Seventh Street and the Pinegrove road, but it was the last year of their 
sojourn in that historic chapel. The next year, under the leadership of Rev. 
Christian Smith Kreider, the large stone church was built on the corner of 




Rev. John Light's Home 



218 LANDMARK HISTORY 

Ninth and Church Streets, where Salem congregation still worships, but in a 
larger, finer temple. 

Rev. John Light's home was the scene of many interesting events, domes- 
tic, social, religious and professional. Besides rearing a family of lovely chil- 
dren, three of whom became deservedly distinguished in the ministry of the 
United Brethren Church, namely, Rudolph, Ezekial and Job, this man of God 
was busy with those things which gave him wide and important public rela- 
tions in the county. These, of course, were chiefly of a religious character 
and in the line of his profession. 

In this old home, then new and almost extravagant in its style and fur- 
nishings, Mr. John Weiss, to whose home and family I have elsewhere re- 
ferred, was married to Miss Mattie Strickler, sister of Rev. David Strickler, a 
prominent minister in the United Brethren Church, and at one time editor of 
the Froelicher Botschafter, the German organ of the denomination. Here, too, 
Mr. John P. Grumbine was married to Miss Maria Light, daughter of John 
Light, tanner, whose worth and influence I have already mentioned. Finally, 
within these consecrated walls Mr. Light breathed his last. The many neigh- 
bors and friends who called to see him in his last illness, especially the last 
days of his life on earth, were astonished at the degree of composure and 
spiritual delight and happiness which characterized his last hours. He bade 
them good-bye in the bright light of an approaching inheritance that is incor- 
ruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. He spoke as one going to a 
country in which he expected to find all his departed friends, and to which 
all his living associates would at last gather. "Mark the perfect man and be- 
hold the upright ; for the end of that man is peace." 



PINEGROVE CHURCH 

The United Brethren Church at Pinegrove was organized in 1847 by 
Rev. J. A. Sand, and these were the original members : Mr. and Mrs Paul 
Barr, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Barr, Mr. and Mrs. John Huber, Mr. and Mrs. Henry 
Spancake, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schropp, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Bucher, Mr. and 
Mrs. Lewis Hackman, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Gambel, Mr. and Mrs. William Lutz 
and Frederick Sporman. 

Of course, the United Brethren preached in Pinegrove long before the 
class was organized and the church built. Indeed, for fifty years previously 
Felix Light and other pioneer ministers had visited the place regularly and 
preached the Gospel; but in 1847 a class was organized and a frame church 
35 x 42 feet was erected on a lot donated by William Eckert at a cost of 
$2,000. Henry Spancake, Frederick Sporman and Paul and Jacob Barr were 
the building committee. 

In 1 899, during the pastorate of Rev. Clinton S. Miller, the congregation 
purchased a lot on Pottsville Street, 60 x 256 feet, and built a parsonage and 
church thereon for $7,500. Three years later the new church was destroyed 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



219 



by a storm. In 1893 the church was rebuilt under the pastoral supervision of 
Rev. P. L. Hains, and in 1901 Rev. A. C. Graul paid off the debt and burned 
the mortgage. 

BELLEGROVE CHURCH 



The Bellegrove Church was erected in 1854 by Joseph and Henry Frank 
and Benjamin Alleman. Previous to that time the Bellegrove congregation 
worshiped in a small brick 



■th of 




Lnion Church 



structure a mile nort 
Bellegrove. 

It was built as a United 
Brethren Church, with union 
privileges, in 1837. It is a 
one-story structure, and is 
called "The Union Church." 
Although our people built 
the church and were gene- 
rous enough to allow other 
denominations to use it, by 
some unknown means it 
was secretly deeded to the 
Methodists, which led to a 
bitter feud between two brothers by the name of Runkle, one of whom be- 
longed to that church, while the other was a United Brethren. This feud was 
not only bitter, but led to a life-long animosity between the two families, both 
of which were otherwise consistent Christians and about equally influential. 
The traditional stories concerning their personal animosities, including the 
manner in which they vented their spleen upon each other, was anything but 

complimentary to religion. 
In the course of a few years, 
owing to the fact that their 
services were conducted 
exclusively in the English 
language, the Methodist 
Church was finally leftwith- 
out any members in that 
community. For some years 
the class at Union Chapel 
continued to worship in 
that church, but finally 
erected a new one for them- 
selves at Bellegrove, where 
the congregation is getting 
stands and is sometimes used for divine 




along nice 



lv 



Kauffman s Church 

The old church stil 



220 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

services ; while those who bitterly contended for property rights in Union 
Chapel have laid aside their strife forever, either through the grace of for- 
giveness or else from sheer necessity. 

Kauff man's Church was built in 1856; but the congregation previously 
worshiped in a Mennonite meeting house near by. Mt. Nebo is a union 
church in which a class of United Brethren worship. Lickdale Church was 
built in 1901, during the pastorate of Rev. F. J. Butterwick. The congregation 
previously worshiped in a union church two miles east of the present church. 
The trustees are E. E. Arnold, J. G. Bohn and H. W. Darcas. 

Green Point Church was erected in 1873, during the pastorate of Rev. 
Schropp. The first trustees were David Rupp, Solomon Mease and Imman- 
uel Fake. 



MEMORIAL CHURCH 

Memorial United Brethren Church, Fall Alley and Lehman Street, Leba- 
non, had its beginning in the fall of 1885, when Rev. H. A. Buffington was 
appointed to establish a mission in that city. In January, 1 886, a room was 
rented on the corner of Forge and Twelfth Streets, where services were held 
for a period of six months, when the meetings were transferred to Twelfth 
and Brandywine Streets, where a tent was erected for public services. The 
following fall Rev. W. H. Uhler took charge of the mission and built a small 
frame chapel. In 1 889 Rev. A. Gaul became the pastor and reorganized the 
church, and changed the location to the present site, on which a brick chapel 
was erected in 1890 by the following trustees: John Weaver, John Steckbeck, 
D. W. Zeller, David Rauch and A. P. Hollinger. In 1892, when West Leba- 
non congregation was attached to the charge, Revs. S. Etter and D. S. Longe- 
necker were the pastors; 1894-97, Rev. J. R. Blecker; 1897-03, D. S. Longe- 
necker. 

The churches in West Lebanon and Pleasant Hill have been built since, 
and are enjoying a good degree of prosperity. 



FREDERICKSBURG CHURCH 

Although United Brethren ministers preached in Fredericksburg as far 
back as 1 800, the first class was not organized until 1 830, which was just 
three years before Rev. Jacob Erb organized the class at Sherk's Meeting 
House, which is said to have been the first class organized east of the Susque- 
hanna. Indeed, from all I can gather concerning the matter, Fredericksburg 
has the oldest organized class on this side of the river, unless it be Salem, 
Lebanon, which / believe organized not later than 1 820. At any rate, Freder- 
icksburg and vicinity was one of the first appointments of our pioneer preach- 
ers, and has furnished many noble and distinguished United Brethren, in- 
cluding Casper Sherk, Rudolph Sherk, John Light, the Grohs, and others. Mr. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



221 



Simon Desh was converted at a meeting held at the home of John Light, tan- 
ner, near Fredericksburg, in 1 840. That was a wonderful meeting, and scores 
were converted who afterward became pillars in the church. Rudolph Sherk 
asked permission for United Brethren to preach in the Mennonite Church, 
but it was not granted ; then he fixed up a log house on his land for public 
worship, took out the partitions and made such changes as seemed suitable, 
and thus opened his own home to our ministers. Services were also held in 
Grove's Mill, south of town. In 1876, under the pastorate of Rev. John 
Binkley, with Rev. George Lentz, John Weller, Joshua Light, John Long and 
Samuel Rickert as trustees, the present church was erected in Fredericksburg 
at a cost of $3,000. Previous to that time our people worshiped in private 
houses and with the Evangelical Association. 



JONESTOWN CHURCH 



For more than a hundred years the people of Jonestown have enjoyed 
the ministry of United Brethren preach- 
ers, from Felix Light down to the pres- 
ent pastor. For more than fifty years, 
however, we had no church there, but 
worshiped in a small union house with 
several denominations. In 1857, under 
the pastoral care of Rev. Daniel Kauff- 
man, a brick structure was erected on a 
back street at a cost of $2,500. The 
deed was made on the 30th day of March, 
1857, by John Brunner and Margaret, 
his wife, to David Wendling, Samuel 
Sherck, Jr., and Michael Heim, for $125. 
The cornerstone for the new church was 
laid in this historic center October 23, 
1910, by the pastor, Rev. R. E. Morgan. 
Other ministers present were Dr. Lowery, 
O. T. Ehrhart, H. E. Miller and D. D. 
Buddinger, besides a large concurse of 

people. Thus the good Seed WaS SOWn Jonestown Church 

here at an early date, and has born fruit an hundred fold. 





• 






• 






, -'-^^"-^ 






4 




; 
















1 




■_.-■■ ■ . ■ ■ ■ • •. - 





PALMYRA CHURCH 



The history of United Brethrenism in the vicinity of Palmyra runs back 
almost a century ; but in the town of Palmyra it is of more recent origin. In 
1 843 Rev. Simon Noll preached in a house near the toll-gate ; and in 1 860 a 



222 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

class was organized. In 1 864 Rev. J. Shoop preached in a tinsmith shop in 
Palmyra; and in 1870 Mrs. Amanda Phillips and Mrs. Eliza Strickler, and a 
few others, urged the necessity of building a church in Palmyra, which was 
finally accomplished in 1 900 under the efficient management of Rev. J. R. 
Blecker, and cost $18,000. 

For a period of sixty years the United Brethren have held divine services 
in the vicinity of Avon, usually at the home of Joseph Light, who was a local 
preacher; but the church was not organized in that place until 1872, when 
the following were enrolled as charter members of Zion United Brethren 
Church at Avon : Joseph Light, James BensOn, John H. Benson, Peter Swope, 
Peter Rauch, Philip Schaeffer, and Jacob Loser. Rev. Samuel Mohn was the 
first pastor of this new charge, whose charter members previously belonged 
to Salem, Lebanon. In that year (1872) a frame church was erected where 
the present house now stands. That church served the purposes of the 
society for about a quarter of a century, when the modern house now occu- 
pied by the congregation was built at a cost of about five thousand. 



REV. JOSEPH F. LIGHT 

Rev. Joseph F. Light, third son of Rev. Felix Light, was closely and 
actively identified with his father and two older brothers in the work of the 
ministry in the early history of the Church, and was a 
man of fine mind and spiritual personality, and was 
magnetic and persuasive as a preacher. While he ad- jfa 

dressed himself in public appeal to the intelligence of 
his audience, his real aim was the heart, which he reached 
by the tender touch of divine pity and warmth of feel- 
ing. In all of the ins and outs of life Mr. Light was 
faithful and affectionate, placing personal honor and 
public weal far above the fog of an unholy fellowship, 
and thus won for himself and his posterity and the 

. . Rev. Joseph F, Light 

Church the highest esteem. He died in 1870. His 

children now living are Mr. Asaph S. Light, Mrs. Esther Meiley and Mrs. 

Dorcas Marquart. 



FELIX H. LIGHT 

One of the most deservedly distinguished members in the laity of the 
Church in recent years was Felix H. Light, who was the son of Rev. Casper 
Light, and a grandson of Rev. Felix Light, both of whom were ministers of 
great usefulness in the early history of the Church, especially in Lebanon 
County. He died on Thursday evening, December 26, 1901, in the seventy- 
sixth year of his age. Like his distinguished grandfather, he was the em- 
bodiment of physical strength and comeliness, and enjoyed almost perfect 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



223 



health to within a year or so of his death, when he began to decline. In early 
life he became a Christian and joined Salem United Brethren Church, with 
whose interests he was actively associated 
the balance of his life, but extended his 
religious sympathy and co-operation far 
beyond the activities of that local society, 
and was officially associated with the es- 
tablishment of the Church in other places. 
He was one of the first trustees of Trinity 
Church in Lebanon, and contributed largely 
to its work and welfare, in money and in 
character. His interest in religion and the 
progress of Christianity increased all through 
his life. "The path of the just is as the 
shining light, that shineth more and more 
unto the perfect day." Moreover, there was 
sunshine in his soul from day to day, no 
matter what the outward conditions of life 
were. In heart and life he was pure and Felix H. Light 

good ; in the social circle he was an inspiration ; in the sanctuary he was 
reverent and devout; in business he was honest and fairly successful; and in 
the home he was the main source of joy to wife and children. The death of 
his wife was a great sorrow to him ; but he found unlimited delight in the 
fellowship of his children, of which he had fifteen. He lived and died in the 
hope of a blessed immortality, realizing that the Lord was his shepherd. 




JOHN B. RAUCH 




John B. Rauch 



One of the founders of Trinity United 
Brethren Church was Mr. John B. Rauch, 
who died in 1895. Mr. Rauch was a man 
of strong character, consistent habits and 
most honorable in all his relations in life. 
Early in life he became a Christian, and 
straightway joined Salem United Brethren 
Church, in which he was an active, enter- 
prising member until 1867, when he, with 
fifty-eight others, became a charter member 
of Trinity Church, with which he remained 
actively identified until he died. No man's 
life and labor can be more divinely cher- 
ished or more heartily appreciated than 
those of John B. Rauch are by Trinity 
Church, to whose establishment and prog- 
ress he contributed most generously. 



224 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 




EAST PENNSYLVANIA CONFERENCE, 1867 



The above picture is historic, including pioneer ministers of 
distinction: Bishop Otterbein, Jacob Roop, Jacob Erb, J. A. 
Sand, G. A. Mark, Sr., and Joseph F. Light. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



225 




Gide 



Light 



Mr. Gideon Light, an excellent cut of whom accompanies this sketch, 
was not a pioneer United Brethren, but fig- 
ured influentially in the affairs of the Church 
more recently, especially in the city and vicin- 
ity of Lebanon, where he was born in 1831, 
and died April 18, 1902, in the seventy-second 
year of his age. He was born in the old 
dwelling erected by his father, Mr. Jacob 
Light, on the north side of Maple Street, just 
west of Ninth, in 1823. The house is still 
standing in a good state of preservation, and 
is the only house on that side of the block 
that stands flush with the street. It was built 
by Mr. Jacob Light while he lived in the old 
log house standing in the centre of the com- 
mon just south of Maple Street, between Ninth 
and Tenth. This old house, situated in a 
clump of large and small fruit trees, by which 
it is almost completely concealed, is an inter- 
esting landmark in the local history of the 
place, a quaint relic of ye olden times. It is 
a one-story log structure, about 50x25 feet, 
and has two dormer windows on each side. It is weather-boarded outside 
and plastered within, and is most curiously constructed. The house contains 
four rooms and a hallway below, the latter about twelve feet wide and run- 
ning the entire width of the house, with a very large "fire-place" on the west 

side, in the centre. The parti- 
tion dividing the west half into 
two apartments is carved and 
paneled, and contains drawers 
and wardrobes, all strangely 
strong and curiously painted. As 
to the garret, that is divided into 
several apartments, the kind lady 
of the house told me. The tim- 
bers are rough-hewn and plenty 
thick enough for safety. The 
house was built not later than 
1 775, and stands on what was 
then the northern border of the 
Light farm, which extended as 
far south as Church Street. This quaint old house was not only a social cen- 
tre in the years agone, but was used for sanctuary purposes by the United 
Brethren, it being one of their many preaching places in the city and vicinity 
of Lebanon. This old house, now dingy and dilapidated, but then new and 




Jacob Light's Home, 1775 



226 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

well kept, was once the scene of many happy occasions of a social and reli- 
gious nature ; for it was the main trysting place of our people in the early 
history of the Church. To the home of Jacob Light came old and young, 
either for social fellowship or for religious worship. With the fragrance of 
the many flowers that bloomed in the yard, the home-life of the Lights sent 
out the odor of old-time hospitality, as wide and sweet as it was generous 
and sincere. O, for more heart and less form in the social affairs of life ! 

But, to go back to Mr. Gideon Light, I may say that he was one of the 
most prominent and useful members of the Church in Lebanon County. He 
was a life-long member of Salem Church, in which he was a leading officer 
for many years. He was identified with all the aggressive movements of his 
church and congregation in recent years, and sustained with a liberal hand 
all of their material improvements. But most of all, Mr. Light was interested 
in the spiritual welfare of the church and community, his long life being an 
unbroken expression of love to God and humanity. He was a quiet man, 
retiring in disposition, good to the poor, honest and pure in his private and 
public relations, and held in high esteem by all who knew him. In politics 
he was a Democrat, and as such was elected county treasurer in 1873, and 
performed the duties of that office with credit to himself and satisfaction to 
the people. Indeed, in every relation in life he was a model man ; and his 
home, like that of Lydia, was thrown open with a wide welcome to God's 
ministering servants, whether preachers or laymen. As a Christian, as a 
church member, as a neighbor, as a husband, as a father, as a brother, as a 
friend and as a fellow worker in spiritual and material affairs, he was true 
and faithful. Moreover, his large and interesting family are all members of 
the church. 

A stroll with Mr. John Yingst over Abraham Draksel's farm, now divided 
and otherwise greatly changed, awakened many tender and grateful thoughts 
concerning the "Silenced Preacher," whose lovely life spoke more loudly for 
Christ than his eloquent tongue, by which the good seed of the kingdom was 
widely scattered through the western part of the State. The house in which 
he lived has been completely razed, and the site is occupied by a little frame 
tool-house, or something of that kind. Under the little frame structure there 
is the same spring over which the dwelling stood, while back of it are marks 
of cellar and foundation. The long, two-story log house, in which Rev. Drak- 
sel lived, once stood here. It had a very wide hallway running crosswise, 
with several rooms on each side, including parlor and living room, and sev- 
eral good rooms upstairs. The garret was long and dark, and was some- 
times used for the purpose of smoking meat. 

About two hundred yards from the site of the old home, and most thickly 
occupied by a clump of slender trees, including a thicker underbrush, is the 
Draksel graveyard. I do not know that any of Rev. Draksel's immediate 
family are buried here, but a number of his kindred are. The graves are 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



227 



marked by native stones and bear no inscription so far as I could see through 
the thicket, and without an axe and a scythe it would be impossible to exam- 
ine more closely. But some one knows who sleeps there, and He'll find them. 

The SchaefTerstown Church was an outgrowth of the Weiss appointment, 
and included in its membership, besides the Weiss family, such men as Geo. 
Brockey, Benjamin Brubaker, Michael Dissinger, Frederick Kline, Jonas Krum- 
bine, Cyrus Beamesderfer, Joseph Horst, Samuel Wingert, Leonard Hartman 
and Samuel Dissinger. 

SchaefTerstown was visited by Rev. Christian Newcomer more than a 
century ago, and also by his associates in the Gospel, who occasionally 
preached there in private houses. About 1 840 the church was organized 
there, and soon after a house of worship was erected. 




Some Maryland Marks 



CHAPTER II 

FREDERICK COUNTY 
CAPTAIN LAWRENCE EBERHART 




HE subject of this sketch embodies a picturesque personal- 
ity, and exemplifies a variety of taste and talent that you 
rarely find in a single in- 
dividual. He was born in 
Middletown, Frederick 
County, Maryland, May 6, 

1 755, and died in or near the place of his 

birth August 6, 1 840, in the eighty-sixth 

year of his age. On the first of August, 

1 776, he enlisted in Captain Goode's "Fly- 
ing Camp" company for service in the 

Revolutionary War, in which he served 

faithfully till it closed at Yorktown. He 

was only twenty-two years of age when he 

enlisted, and was a tall, finely formed man 

of great physical strength and pluck, and 

finally rose to the rank of sergeant. His 

regiment was assigned a place in General 

Beall's brigade, and served with the other 

Maryland troops at White Plains and Fort 

Washington. 

After the expiration of his first term of 

service, Sergeant Eberhart re-enlisted at Frederick in Colonel Washington's 

regiment of cavalry; and at the battle of Cowpens, where he and seventeen 

other men were selected by Colonel Washington to reconnoiter Colonel 

Tarletons position, he was wounded and taken prisoner, his horse being shot 

under him. 

Immediately after his capture by the enemy, the following conversation 

took place between Sergeant Eberhart and Colonel Tarleton : "Do you think 




Captain Lawrence Eberhart 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



229 



Mr. Washington and Mr. Morgan will fight me today?" asked Colonel Tarle- 
ton. "Yes," said Eberhart, "if they can keep together two hundred men." 
"Then," said the Colonel, "it will be another Gates defeat." "I hope through 
God that it will be another Tarleton defeat," replied Sergeant Eberhart. The 
British commander, thinking that Eberhart did not know who he was talking 
to, said, "I am Colonel Tarleton, sir." "And / am Sergeant Eberhart, " replied 
the plucky patriot. Colonel Tarleton was evidently pleased with the ser- 
geant's frankness and courage, and immediately had his several severe wounds 
dressed by British surgeons. 

In the battle which ensued the enemy, finding that they could not keep 
their prisoner, "shot him in the head over one of his eyes," but the wound 

was not _____ m 

serious and 
a moment 
later the 
man who 
shot him 
was killed, 
and his 
horse giv- 
en over to 
Eberhart. 
A little la- 
ter Colonel 
Washing- 
ton was res- 
cued from 
capture or 
death by 
Se r g eant 
Eberhart, 
who struck 

the arm of a British officer who was in the act of striking him. At the same 
moment a British officer in front (believed to have been Colonel Tarleton 
himself) made a thrust which Washington parried, whereupon the officer fired 
his pistol and wounded Eberhart in the knee. On returning from the pursuit, 
Washington embraced Eberhart and sent him to the rear, where his wounds 
were dressed. 

For a long time Eberhart was disabled for active service, but was present 
at the surrender at Yorktown, where he became acquainted with Lafayette. 
In 1 782 he was honorably discharged, and returned to Middletown Valley, 
in Frederick County, Maryland, where he settled on a farm about one mile 
southeast of Middletown, now occupied by a Mr. De Grange. 

In 1 799 Colonel Washington visited Sergeant Eberhart, and when they 
met they "kissed each other and wept for joy." 




Rev. Eberhart's Home 



230 LANDMARK HISTORYOFTHE 

On December 1 2, 1 799, just one hundred years ago to the very day, 
Christian Newcomer preached at Lawrence Eberhart's, near Middletown, 
Maryland, from the first and second verses of the sixty-first chapter of Isaiah, 
as follows : "The spirit of the Lord God is upon me : because the Lord has 
anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek ; he hath sent me to bind 
up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of 
the prison to them that are bound ; to proclaim the acceptable year of the 
Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all that mourn." This 
is the first mention of Eberhart's name in Newcomer's Journal, so far as I 
know, and on February 11, 1816, sixteen years later, Bishop Newcomer 
preached in Middletown and went home with Eberhart. That is the last 
time his name is mentioned in the journal. 

On a marble monument, about twelve feet high, erected by his relatives 
in the Methodist Episcopal graveyard in Middletown, Maryland, is this in- 
scription : "Lawrence Eberhart, ordained a minister of the Gospel of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church by Bishop Asbury, A. D. 1 808." On the right 
side of the monument is the following : "Sergeant Lawrence Eberhart, a vete- 
ran of the Revolution, the rescuer of Colonel Washington at the battle of 
Cowpens; he assisted at the most remarkable battles during the war, and in 
the battle of Brandywine, when Lafayette was wounded, he and Sergeant 
Wallace rescued him from his perilous situation, and carried him about two 
miles to the house of a friend. He served from the beginning to the close of 
the Revolution. He was generous and just in all the relations of life." On 
the front of the shaft is carved a shield bearing the stars and stripes, and on 
the opposite side of the shaft is a cluster of roses. 

It seems that Rev. Lawrence Eberhart was ordained by Bishop Asbury, 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and that in the later years of his life he 
nominally identified himself with that denomination. Just how and why this 
was done no one knows. It was probably owing to the fact that the Metho- 
dists owned and occupied a comfortable meeting house near his home, and 
in order to enjoy the advantages and benefits of their class-meetings, which 
were for members of that Church exclusively, he permitted his name to be 
entered upon the church record, as Martin Boehm did, and thus became a 
recognized member of the Methodist Church, and finally came to regard him- 
self as such. 

In the conference of 1805, which met at the home of Jacob Bowlus, near 
Middletown, Maryland, the name of "Lorenz" Eberhart appears for the first 
time as a minister and member of the original conference, and in 1812, when 
the conference met in the old log church near Keedysville, Maryland, "Lor- 
enz" Eberhart's name appears in the minutes for the last time. At this named 
conference, which was four years after his ordination by Bishop Asbury, ac- 
cording to the inscription on his monument, he not only appears as a member 
of the conference and a minister in the United Brethren Church, but he was 
assigned some special work : to take charge of Rev. Henry Spayth's appoint- 
ments while he made a visit to Virginia. The facts probably are that Law- 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 231 

rence Eberhart was ordained by Bishop Asbury under the auspices of the United 
Brethren Church, and thereafter remained a minister in its communion for 
many years, certainly till 1812, finally identifying himself in regular worship 
and nominal membership with the Methodist Church, because they had a 
house of worship and regular preaching service in Middletown, where it was 
most convenient for him to attend. At any rate, Lawrence Eberhart was a 
pioneer member and minister of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, 
and that for a period of not less than fifteen or twenty years, during which 
time he actively participated in the work of the Church, and opened his house 
for the public preaching of the Word, and gave to God's ministers and people 
a most cordial welcome and unbounded hospitality. 

The house on the farm on which he settled when he returned from the 
war is still standing. It was built about 1 750, and is now one hundred and 
sixty years old. It is a stone structure, about 40 x 30 feet, with three rooms 
on the first floor, where it seems but two originally existed. It is situated but 
a few hundred yards from Middle Creek. The house is dilapidated, and the 
surroundings are entirely neglected. The view given herewith is from the 
northwest, and shows the north end and back of the house. The wall, as 
you see in the cut, is broken and seriously out of plumb, and supported by 
huge props. The little building at the end was once the spring-house, through 
which, proceeding from underneath the main dwelling, flows a splendid 
stream of water. Here, in this old, old stone house, that has stood the storms 
of a century and a half, but is now unable to resist the encroachments of time 
without "props," the conference of 1806 convened on May 21, and continued 
in session two days. The following preachers were present : John Neidig, 
Lorenz Eberhart, Joseph Hoffman, Peter Kemp, Christian Krum, Michael 
Thomas, John Hershey, Christian Newcomer, Jacob Bowlus, Henry Krum 
and George A. Geeting. 

The writer had always heard that the house in which Mr. Eberhart died, 
located a mile or more from the old homestead, and in which he spent his 
later years, was the place where the conference of 1 806 was held ; but his 
granddaughter, Mrs. Sarah C. Kepler, directed my attention to the old home 
of her grandfather, which I finally found and photographed, so as to present 
the accompanying picture of an interesting and historic building, which I 
feared would fall down before I could get a "snap-shot" at it. 

Lawrence Eberhart had a son, who became a minister in the United 
Brethren Church. His name was John Everhart, and he lived and died, Mrs. 
Kepler informed me, in Hooks Point, Iowa. 



JOHN SNOOK 

At the mention of the name of John Snook many of the few surviving 
ministers and members of our Church who were born in the morning of the 
present century, and who lived or labored in the bounds of the original con- 



232 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 




ference, organized at Peter Kemp's, near Frederick, Maryland, in 1 800, will 
experience a thrill of interest which the memory of early religious associations 

alone can inspire. He was one of the pio- 
neer members of the Church of the United 
Brethren in Christ, and was born, I think, 
near Haugh's Church, Frederick County, 
Maryland, in 1 789, and died near Keys- 
ville, Carroll County, Maryland, February 
27, 1872, in the eighty-third year of his 
age. I think he was the first person buried 
in the beautiful United Brethren cemetery 
at Keysville. The first quarterly conference 
that the writer ever attended officially was 
at Keysville, where Brother Snook resided. 
That was in 1870, if I remember correctly, 
just two years before he died. That was 
the first and last time I saw him. The im- 
press of that single contact with that sin- 
gularly simple and conscientious man of 
God is consciously with me as I pen these 
lines. Peter Kemp, son of Rev. Peter 
Kemp, who went with me to that confer- 
John Snook ence, furnished this concerning Brother 

Snook's death : "J onn Snook, who was widely a known in the Church, the 
father-in-law of Revs. J. W. Fulkerson and W. A. Jackson, and member of 
the United Breth- 
ren Church for 
many years, fell 
asleep in Jesus Feb- 
ruary 27, 1872, in 
his eighty-third 
year. Many of the 
old itinerant minis- 
ters of the Church 
remember his un- 
bounded hospital- 
ity while sojourning 
under his roof. He 
leaves a kind and 
affectionate widow, 
six daughters, and 
two sons to mourn 

hi i John Snook's Home 

is absence ; but, 

thank God, we mourn not as those who have no hope." 

Kemp's tribute of love to Father Snook's memory. 




That was Brother 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 233 

Several times he spoke to me about Brother Snook, and told me how 
much he admired him, and what an inspiration and power he was in the 
spiritual affairs of the Church, and what an able and liberal giver he was 
in the temporal support he gave the cause of God. He was a son of Adam 
and Mary Snook, who are buried at Haugh's Church, one mile from the old 
homestead. His mother lived with him after her husband died. She, too, 
was a member of the United Brethren Church, and died in great peace on 
the 1 1 th of June, 1 864, ninety-nine years old, save one month. 

Brother John Snook and Francis Scott Key, author of the "Star Spangled 
Banner," were born in the same community, the latter in 1 779 and the former 
in 1 789, Brother Snook being just ten years younger than Mr. Key. They 
were not only neighbors, but intimate friends. They were singularly and sub- 
stantially alike in two important respects, patriotically and religiously. They 
were an inspiration to each other in the matter of resisting the encroachments 
of Great Britain ; so when Key was writing the memorable words of our 
national song in sight of Fort McHenry, he was simply uttering the fiery 
sentiments of young Snook's heart. In religion Key and Snook were alike in 
disposition and desire, but not in spiritual attainment. Snook had obtained 
the witness of the Spirit, but Key had not ; so when they set about establish- 
ing the first Sunday School in that (their) community, Key furnished the 
books and rendered other valuable assistance, and Snook was assigned to the 
more spiritual features of the work, such as praying with and exhorting the 
people. Later on there was seen and expressed a closer spiritual resemblance 
between these two men; and they finally went about together holding prayer- 
meetings in Middleburg and other communities. 

The picture that accompanies this sketch was taken from a small photo- 
graph taken by J. R. Marken, Frederick, Maryland, soon after that process of 
taking pictures had been discovered. It is considered by Sister Snook, his 
widow, from whom I got it, a true picture. In his calm, firmly set features 
something of his strength of character is revealed ; and in his dress there is 
simple elegance of taste in style and quality. Those who knew Brother Snook 
will readily recognize this picture, and will rejoice in the sacred memories 
which his face recalls. 

CHRISTIAN REMSBERG 

Mr. Christian Remsberg was a pioneer member of the Church of the 
United Brethren in Christ. His father's name was Henry Remsberg, who 
lived near Walkersville, Frederick County, Maryland, where Christian was 
born, November 28, 1 785. His first wife was a Miss Snook, who lived only 
a short time. In August, 1815, he married a Miss Bowlus. He obtained a 
common school education at Retreat school-house, near Joshua Doub's, where 
Brother Peter Kemp, son of Rev. Peter Kemp, taught school. Of course, it 
was long after Christian Remsberg went to school that Peter Kemp taught at 
Retreat. 



234 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 




Mr. Remsberg was a farmer, and lived near Middletown, Frederick 
County, Maryland. He also owned and operated a woolen mill, and did a 

large business. In the spring, when sheep- 
shearing was over, he would send out his 
two-horse wagon, with flat bed and no 
springs, and gather up wool, take it to the 
mill, where it was carded and dressed, and 
then returned to the people, who spun it 
themselves or else had Mr. Remsberg man- 
ufacture "linsey-woolsey" goods out of it 
for them. These goods, which also in- 
cluded blankets, were returned to the peo- 
ple who furnished the wool in the fall, in 
case they were not sold to the manufactur- 
er. The Remsbergs, Henry, Casper, Chris- 
tian (brothers), David and Benjamin (sons 
of Henry), were all engaged at different 

Christian Remsberg . • .i r . r 1 i 

times in the manufacture or woolen goods, 
and all of them were United Brethren. The old mill, shown in the cut, was 
built by Casper Remsberg in 1814. It was, however, originally intended for 
a grist-mill, but was finally fitted up and used for a woolen-mill. The old mill 
is an interesting relic of by-gone days, and also of the "linsey-woolsey" era, 
including a quaint method of manufacture. Christian Remsberg, whose pic- 
ture appears with 
this sketch, was a 
devout Christian, 
and a staunch, in- 
fluential member of 
the United Breth- 
ren Church from 
early manhood to 
the day of his death, 
which occurred on 
March 29, 1874, in 
his eighty-ninth m I 

year. The later ir* -- %*3 *1 
years of his life he ^!*^*v„ 

spent in Middle- 
town, a neat village 
of about one thous- 
and souls; but his 
farm and home and ._ 

• 11 i i Casper Remsberg's Woolen Mill 

mill were located 

about two miles south of the town. A picture of the house he built and lived 

in, and which still stands in a good state of preservation, is herewith furnished. 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



235 



It is a neat, home-like place, and was once, say seventy years ago, a resting- 
place for God's ministers, who always found a warm welcome, and the pur- 
est, sweetest hospitality was ever dispensed at Brother Remberg's home. 
Many of the pioneer preachers of the United Brethren Church met, worshiped 
and were entertained in this home. 

Christian Remsberg was a man of wide and good influence in the com- 
munity. On all questions of moral reform and social purity he stood abso- 
lutely plumb and characteristically outspoken, and was therefore a conserving 
and purifying force in society, and a power in the Church of God. As a 
United Brethren he was churchly, aggressive and liberal, and stood in an 
official relation to the Church for many years. Politically he was originally 
a Federalist, but subsequently a Whig, and finally a Republican. He was 
one among two or three in his election district who voted for Abraham Lin- 
coln in 1860. In 1861 he was appointed postmaster at Middletown, which 
position he held for four years. 

His son, Mr. George W. Remsberg, who kindly helped me to these items 
of interest in the life of his father, and loaned me the photograph from which 
the accompanying cut was made, is an intelligent, affable Christian gentleman, 
useful in the Church and community, and justly esteemed by his neighbors. 

MRS. MARIAH C. REMSBERG 



Mrs. Mariah C. Remsberg, whose maiden name was Mariah Catharine 
Link, of Virginia, was the wife of Henry 
Remsberg, who was a prominent member 
of the United Brethren Church in its early 
history, and lived and died near Middle- 
town, Maryland. 

Mrs. Remsberg, whose picture accom- 
panies this sketch, was one of the pioneer 
mothers of the Church, being actively as- 
sociated in church work and worship with 
the wives of Jacob Bowlus, Isaac Michael, 
Valentine Doub, John Hoover, Jacob Toms 
and many others whose homes were regu- 
lar preaching places for our ministers when 
we had few or no churches. Mrs. Rems- 
berg's home, a cut of which appears here- 
with, located a mile or two southwest of 
Middletown, was a regular preaching place 
in the early history of the Church. It is, as 
you see, a brick structure, about 30 x 45 
feet, with kitchen and several outbuildings, 

nr i . i -ii . i , . , , , , Mrs. Henry Remsberg 

ot which are delapidated. Although the 

premises are occupied by a family, the surroundings are sadly expressive of 




236 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



"■>; 




that decay which characterizes mortal life. In the picture the house looks to 
be in a fair state of preservation ; but the walls are cracked, the porch is 
rickety, many panes of glass are out, and the yard is overgrown with weeds. 

It is an old house, 
built probably by 
Brother Remsberg 
in the early part of 
the century. Here 
she and her hus- 
band began house- 
keeping, and here 
their twelve chil- 
dren were born — 
seven boys and five 
girls. Into this house 
and home they in- 
vited God's minis- 
ters ; and so it be- 
came one of the 
regular "appoint- 
ments" of the first 
and almost endless 
"circuit" which con- 
stituted the entire 

Church a hundred years ago. I felt strangely and deeply impressed as I 
stood in the quaint old room where Otterbein, Newcomer, Geeting, and per- 
haps all of the first preachers spoke to the crowds that gathered there every 
four weeks to hear those simple men of God preach the Gospel. 

Mrs. Remsberg was a very spiritual woman, devoted to her husband and 
children, quite churchly and given to hospitality. She loved to entertain the 
many who came from distant communities to attend divine service at her 
home. One of her daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth Hoover, widow of Gideon 
Hoover, of Wolfsville, Maryland, is still living. She is aged and feeble in 
health, but strong in the faith and hope of the gospel. Mrs. John Maugan, of 
Wolfsville, daughter of Mrs. Hoover, and granddaughter of Mrs. Remsberg, 
kindly loaned me the picture from which the accompanying cut was made. 
It is a pleasing picture of a godly woman. Another one of her daughters, 
Jane R. Remsberg, married a minister, Rev. John Haney, of the Minnesota 
Conference, who is about ninety years of age. 

Mrs. Remsberg' s husband, who died about fifty years ago in his seventy- 
first year, owned and operated a woolen mill near his home. His son David 
also engaged in that business, and built himself a fine mill near his father s 
factory, and equipped it with all the then modern facilities for manufacture. 
But that fine mill, owing to a decline in business or misfortune of some kind, 
was finally torn down and the machinery sold. 



lenry nemsberg s 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



237 



The dwelling house which David built near the new mill was afterward 
owned and occupied by his brother Benjamin, who still lives, I believe, in 
New Bloomfield, Ohio. A picture of the house built by David Remsberg and 
afterward owned and occupied by his brother Benjamin, which is still stand- 
ing, is given in this sketch. It, too, shows signs of neglect, and is in the line of 
decay. Under that old roof and those massive walls the pioneer ministers of 
our Church were wont to congregate. 



DOUB'S SUNDAY SCHOOL 

About the year 1830 Doub's Sunday School was organized under the 
auspices of the United Brethren in Christ at the home of Valentine Doub, 
who was a son-in-law of Rev. Peter Kemp, and in the same house and room 







■vsjgwp"," - * 


:M. 
















lllii 


' " 




■ • ■ v* i: ~ • ; : ' ' ' 


j^^^fejjj'^^"^ 


:" 


'.*/-'■""'"*•- ! 



Peter Kemp's Home 

where the General Church organized in 1 800. I cannot say positively, but 
I am inclined to the opinion that Mrs. Valentine Doub, commonly called 
Mother Doub or "Aunt Esther," was the first superintendent. I know she was 
the superintendent for several years, but I cannot fix the exact time of her 
term. In 1 839 Mr. David Kemp, who lived within a stone's throw of Valen- 
tine Doub's, was the superintendent, and Cornelius Staley was the assistant. 
Miss Kate Hoover, who lived some years with the Doubs and who made her 
home in Frederick, and was one of the most liberal subscribers toward the 



238 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



Centennial Memorial United Brethren Church, but who now lives at Carlisle, 
Penn'a, has a book which she redeemed with tickets in that school of 1 839. 
Mr. Ezra Doub was the librarian at that time, and the following were some of 
the teachers : Mother Doub, Mrs. Ezra Doub, Mrs. Edward Baker, Mrs. David 
Kemp, Miss Mary Schultz, Mr. Isaac Bruner, Miss Emma Staley, Miss Ruth 
Kemp, Miss Hester Preston, Mrs. C. Staley. 

Some of the scholars were Miss Kate Hoover, Mrs. W. H. Doub, now 
living in Frederick, and one of the most liberal contributors and supporters 
of the Centennial Church ; Miss Catharine Pasley, Miss Catharine Martz, Ezra 
Miller, Benjamin Brane, Peter Brane and Jacob Martz, who became a Lutheran 
minister. Of all those who once occupied seats in Doub's Sunday School I 
only know of three who still live, Miss Catharine Hoover, Mrs. W. H. Doub 
and Miss Mary Schultz. 



JOHN HOOVER 



This picture recalls the form and faithfulness of one of God's noble men, 
who lived in the dish of the mountain in which the picturesque village of 
Wolfsville, Maryland, is located, just at the head of the beautiful Middletown 
Valley, one of the most fair and fertile stretches of country to be seen any- 
where. Here John 
Hoover, the subject 
of this sketch, was 
born on the 20th 
of January, 1 777. 
Amid these moun- 
tain scenes and as- 
sociations, with one 
of the most inter- 
esting pages in the 
book of nature 
spread out before 
him, and the good 
seed of the gospel 
being sown in his 

; . ^ ; : . III heart by pious par- 

Hoover Home ents > y° un § Hoover 

grew to manhood, 
and soon thereafter embraced Christ and joined the United Brethren Church, 
in whose favor and fellowship he lived and labored till the day of his death, 
which occurred in the balmy month of June, 1861, in his eighty-fourth year. 
He died in great peace surrounded by his family, the Rev. W. L. Mathews 
also being present. Thus ended the long and useful life of one of the most 
faithful pioneer members of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



239 



Susanna Harshman, with whom 
preaching place for our early 



About the year 1 800 he married Miss 
he lived in happy wedlock many years. 

His home in Wolfsville was a regular 
preachers. The house, a substantial 
stone structure, and also the barn in 
which the "big meetings" were held, is 
still standing, and is owned and occupied 
by his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Gideon 
Hoover, a daughter of Henry Remsberg 
and a life-long member of the Church. 

The picture herewith furnished is a 
true one, and shows a countenance with 
uniform features, peaceful and prepos- 
sessing. To those who knew Brother 
Hoover this picture will recall a Chris- 
tian father and family whose unceasing 
love and hospitality should never be 
forgotten. 

The young people in our Church 
who enjoy its present opportunities will 
never know how much they owe to the 
fathers and mothers of the earlier gen- 
erations. Though a multitude of these 

I . li- John Hoover 

have gone to their reward, their prayers 

and abundant faith have given us the blessed heritage we now enjoy. 




JERUSALEM AND VICINITY 




Jacob Tom's Home 



About one mile and 
a half northwest of 
Myersville, Maryland, 
at the upper end of 
the beautiful Middle- 
town Valley, a union 
church was built of 
logs many years ago, 
probably about the 
year 1 800 or earlier. 
The United Brethren 
people subsequently 
bought that church 
and worshiped in it 
till they were practi- 
cally driven out by 



240 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



the very people from whom they had 




Jacob Toms 

and occupied by Brother Josiah Doub. 
He was a tailor. From Middletown 
he moved to Pleasant Walk (Jerusa- 
lem), where he lived some years. 

Jacob Toms, Sr., lived within a 
half mile of Jerusalem Chapel, where 
Cyrus Routzahn and wife were con- 
verted, together with scores of others, 
some of whom are still living. Jacob 
Toms' home, built by him in 1811, 
was a regular preaching place for our 
ministers. His son Jacob bought the 
home place, and now it is occupied 
by John Henry Toms, grandson of 
Jacob Toms, Sr., who is buried at Jeru- 
salem, together with his wife Magda- 
lena, who died November 24, 1852, 
aged eighty-four years. Jacob Toms 
died two years later (1854), in his 
eighty-eighth year. Jacob Toms, Jr., 
who married Mary (Polly) Floyd, was 
also a member of the United Brethren 



purchased the property, perhaps about 
1852, when they built a more com- 
fortable and commodious brick church 
in the town of Myersville. 

That old church was well and 
widely known as "Jerusalem Chapel," 
and many marvelously fine meetings, 
spiritually speaking, were held in that 
house under the auspices of the United 
Brethren Church, among whose pio- 
neer members in the vicinity of Jeru- 
salem we may mention Jacob Rhoads, 
Jacob Doub, Jacob Toms (many Ja- 
cobs, you see), Abraham Doub and 
Valentine Doub, who married the 
daughter of Rev. Peter Kemp, whose 
home he finally owned and occupied. 
Jacob Rhoads was the grandfather of 
Brother John J. Smith, of Myersville. 
He married Susan Leatherman, and 
lived in a log house in Middletown, 
Maryland, located on the southeast 
corner of Keller Street, now owned 
Jacob Rhoads came from Germany- 




Mrs. Jacob Toms 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



241 



Church. In connection with the cut of the old Toms home we give herewith 
pictures of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Toms, Jr. Mrs. Jacob Toms is remembered 
as a lady of great social and spiritual refinement. 

In this Toms home Newcomer preached on the 25th of September, 1819, 
and lodged with Jacob Doub, whose home was near by, and was also used 
for public worship. Jacob Doub and his wife Elizabeth are also buried in 
the old Jerusalem graveyard. 

Abraham Doub, brother of Jacob and Valentine Doub, also lived in the 
vicinity of Jerusalem, on the farm now owned and occupied by Hezekiah 
Routzahn. Here Rev. John Hildt preached on the 20th of February, 1 822, 
from Hebrews 13:8, "With astonishing power," Newcomer says. 

In the Toms home the board of trustees of the Benevolent Society of the 
United Brethren in Christ met April 4, 1828. The following members were 
present: Valentine Doub, George Marteney, Jacob Doub, Joseph Hershey, 
and Rev. John Hildt, the latter being the secretary; and on the 26th of Feb- 
ruary, 1 839, the same board met in the old Jerusalem Chapel, and the follow- 
ing members were present: George Geeting, Valentine Doub, Jacob Rinehart 
and John Hershey. 




CHAPTER III 



CHURCHES IN FREDERICK COUNTY 




HE Church of the United Brethren in Christ was ecclesiasti- 
cally born and partly reared in Frederick County, Mary- 
land. For thirty years certain ministers of the Gospel, under 
the leadership of William Otterbein, Martin Boehm, Chris- 
tian Newcomer, Martin Krider, George A. Geeting, Abraham 
Troxel and others, representing different denominations, 
traveled through Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and held great union 
meetings of an evangelistic nature, usually on Whitsuntide. The services 
were generally held in barns or private houses, owing to the fact that there 
were but few churches in those outlying districts, and often the doors of these 
few churches were closed against these "unsectarian ministers." 

After a period of thirty years the first general gathering of the "unsectarian 
ministers" occurred at the home of Peter Kemp, some two miles west of 
Frederick, Maryland, on the 25th of September, 1800. There and then the 
United Brethren Church was born. At that conference the following mem- 
bers were present: William Otterbein, Martin Boehm, John Hershey, Abraham 
Troxel, Christian Krum, Henry Krum, George Pfrimmer, Henry Boehm, Chris- 
tian Newcomer, Dietrich Aurand, Jacob Geisinger, George A. Geeting, Jacob 
Bowlus and Adam Lehman. In the prosecution of their evangelistic labors, 
baptized by the spirit of gospel unity and love for souls, these men uncons- 
ciously laid the lines of organized church life ; and, when they came together 
at Peter Kemp's, representing a widely scattered constituency of probably 
25,000, a multiplicity of sacred influences and associations lifted up their 
voices unitedly and said, "Let this child of Providence be christened." The 
conference assumed legislative functions, organized itself and its adhering 
population into a church, elected bishops and planned otherwise for larger 
results under the name of the United Brethren in Christ. That act made 
Peter Kemp's home historic — the Bethlehem of our denomination. Here the 
Church was organized and instituted, and from 1 790 to 1 830, according to 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 243 

the written record, it was a centre of life and influence for the whole Church. 
Great meetings were held at Peter Kemp's, and distinguished ministers of 
many denominations, including Bishops Asbury, Otterbein, Boehm, Newcomer 
and Lorenzo Dow broke the bread of life in that sacred place. 

Among the pioneer ministers and members in Frederick County I may 
mention Rev. Peter Kemp, Rev. Adam Lehman, John Cronise, Peter Shook, 
Benjamin Nidig, Jacob Perry, Benjamin Brane, John Staley, George Stokes, 
Valentine Doub, Jacob Weller, Rev. Jacob Bowlus, Rev. Lawrence Eberhart, 
John Snook, Henry Hemp, Joshua Doub, William Reinhart, Jacob Toms, Yost 
Harbaugh, Abram Doub, John Harp, Frederick Rider, Jacob Martin, Reuben 
Osier, Lewis Wertenbaker, Henry Remsberg, Gideon Hoover, Christian Rems- 
berg and John Hoover. 

The conference of 1 800 was composed of ministers of different denom- 
inations ; but they had labored for years independent of ecclesiastical associa- 
tions, and, without organizing their numerous converts into societies, which 
shows that they were innocent of any intention to establish a new church. 
From 1 780 to I 830 United Brethren ministers canvassed this lovely valley for 
souls; and in many of her towns and villages, even where our Church is not 
now represented, they were the first to break the bread of life to the people. 
But their long rides, soul-saving sermons and wearisome labors are over now, 
and to each and all the Master has said, "Well done." Peace to their ashes ! 
Blessed be their memory ! 



WHERE THE CONFERENCE MET 

After the organization of the Church at Peter Kemp's in 1 800, and before 
we had a house of worship in the territory, this original conference met in 
Frederick County as follows : 

September 23, 1800, at Peter Kemp's; October 6, 1802, John Cronise's, 
near Monocacy ; May 29, 1 805, Rev. Jacob Baulus', a mile east of Middle- 
town ; May 21,1 806, Rev. Lawrence Eberhart' s, about a mile south of Mid- 
dletown. The two latter homes are still standing. The Church now has four- 
teen organized congregations in the county, with a communicant membership 
of about two thousand. 



CHURCHES IN FREDERICK COUNTY 

ROCKY SPRINGS 

This church, contrary to every historic sentiment, has been sold. It was 
the successor of the old Peter Kemp appointment. When the society at 
Peter Kemp's (or Valentine Doub's, as it was called later) ceased to worship 
in that historic home, the Church and Sunday School services were transferred 
to Rocky Spring School House, about two miles and a half west of Frederick, 



244 LANDMARK HISTORYOFTHE 

and about one mile west of the Doub home. Here the congregation wor- 
shiped and flourished till the chapel was built, some twenty years ago. Some 
of the leading members then were Cornelius Staley and wife, Joshua Main 
and wife, Frederick Kintz and wife, Henry Perry and wife, Daniel Shook, 
Lewis Yonson, Mahlon Miller and John Shankle. Dr. Brane, of East Penn- 
sylvania, and Rev. J. H. Mayne, of Miami Conference, were reared in this 
congregation. 

OTTERBEIN MEMORIAL CHURCH 

This congregation was organized in Frederick City, Maryland, by Rev. 
A. M. Evers in 1873, and reorganized in 1875 by Rev. J. L. Grimm, the foun- 
der of the church, who also organized a Sunday School the same year, with 
Peter Kemp as superintendent. The services were all held in Kemp Hall. 
In 1883, under the administration of Rev. A. M. Evers, a lot was purchased 
on East Third Street for $1,200, and the first church, Otterbein Memorial 
Chapel, was erected on that lot and was dedicated by Bishop Glossbrenner. 

The present edifice was built during the pastorate of Rev. C. W. Stine- 
spring, and under the direction of the following committee : Rev. C. W. Stine- 
spring, Reno S. Harp, John H. Hamilton, M. Frank Seacrist, Jacob Huffer, 
Rev. L. O. Burtner, Rev. A. B. Statton, G. C. Snyder, J. W. Long, and Cyrus 
Routzahn. The committee purchased the "Diehl Memorial Chapel" for $4,- 
700, and added to that chapel a beautiful church costing about $20,000. The 
cornerstone was laid October 22, 1900, by Rev. Stinespring. Dr. Brane de- 
livered the address. Dr. Eshbach also spoke. The church was dedicated 
May 19, 1901, by Bishop Kephart. 

The pastors of this church have been the following: 1870-1874, Rev. J. 
L.Grimm; 1880-1882, C W. Stinespring; 1882-1886, A. M. Evers; 1886- 
1887, W. O. Fries and D. R. Bovey ; 1887-1888, S. K. Wine; 1888-1892, G. 
W. Kiracofe; 1892-1895, M. L. Maysellis; 1895-1904, C. W. Stinespring; 
1904 to the present time, J. W. Kiracofe. The property is valued at $25,000. 

BAULUS CHAPEL 

This church was located in Middletown, Maryland. In 1 80 1 , or about 
that time, a little church was erected in Middletown by the "followers of Otter- 
bein" and the Methodists. That house burned down. In 1830 the two 
churches built a brick chapel and used it alternately until 1845, when the 
Methodists sold their interest in the old church to the United Brethren and 
erected for themselves another house of worship. The charter for the United 
Brethren Church was granted May 1 1, 1854; and on July 29, 1854, a deed 
was made to Rev. John Ruebush, Jacob Young, Enos Doub and Jonathan 
Perry, trustees of the church, for half an acre of land, by Christian Remsberg. 
This property was sold by the trustees to the school board of the town in 
1882. They then bought a lot on Main Street, and thereon erected the pres- 
ent church, "Otterbein Chapel." It was erected in 1 882, and dedicated that 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 245 

fall by Rev. J. W. Hott. The trustees were C. H. Crowell, Enos Doub, Jacob 
Willhide, Lewis P. Doub and Benjamin Remsberg. As to the pastors in 
Middletown, the conference of 1802 placed the appointments on Frederick 
Circuit, which included Middletown, in the care of George Adam Geeting, 
who supplied the needs of the work as well as he could. 

In 1803 the societies in Maryland, unorganized and uncounted (many 
thought it wrong to number Israel), were "left in the hands of the preachers 
in Maryland to arrange for ;" which meant that Peter Kemp, Christian New- 
comer, John Hershey, George Adam Geeting, and other ministers residing in 
Frederick and Washington Counties, should see that the people in Maryland 
were supplied with preaching. In this primitive and uncertain way the people 
in Frederick County were served for many years. Pastors were regularly 
supplied to Frederick Circuit, which included Middletown. as follows: 1837, 
George B. Rimel and William K. McCabe ; 1 838, George B. Rimel and George 
A. Shuey; 1839, George Gilbert and George A. Shuey ; 1840, J. J. Gloss- 
brenner and George A. Shuey; 1841, J. J. Glossbrenner and John Eberhart; 
1 842, Jacob Bachtol and Jacob Markwood ; 1 843, D. S. Spessard and James 
Miles; 1844, D. S. Spessard; 1845, John Ruebush and John Gibbons; 1846- 
1847, George B. Rimel; 1848, William R. Coursey and George W. Statton ; 
1849, W. R. Coursey and H. B. Winton ; 1850, H. B. Winton and W. F. 
Lower; 1851, George W. Statton and L. W. Matthews; 1852, George W. 
Statton and W. L. Lower; 1853, Jacob Bachtol and John F. Statton ; 1854, 
John Ruebush and John Phillips; 1 855, Theodore Brashears ; 1856-8, I. K' 
Statton and Adam Bovey and Samuel Evers ; 1859, L. W. Matthews and W. 
A. Jackson; 1860, L. W. Matthews and T. F. Bushong ; 1861, I. Baltzell and 
T. F. Bushong ; 1 862-4, W. T. Lower and J. W. Grimm ; 1 865-7, C T. Steam, 
J. W. Grimm and J. D. Freed; 1868-9, A. M. Evers; 1870-1, G. W. Statton; 
1872-4, J. K.Nelson. 

Rev. Jacob Bowlus and his brother John and Rev. Lawrence Eberhart, 
three prominent members of the Middletown Church, married sisters — the 
Misses Crate, Eva and Mary Backenbaugh. Rev. Lawrence Eberhart, who 
rescued Colonel Washington from the clutches of the British, was a pioneer 
minister in the United Brethren Church and a regular member of the original 
conference, from which he received work as late as 1812. He was ordained 
by Bishop Asbury as a United Brethren minister in 1808 — four years before 
he received his last appointment from the conference, which met at "Geet- 
ing's Meeting House," near Keedysville. He has been classed as a Methodist, 
and no doubt enrolled his name on that church-book for purposes of fellow- 
ship, but he never withdrew from the United Brethren Church. 

GEORGETOWN CHAPEL 

This church, located at Walkersville, Maryland, was built in 1857. The 
cornerstone was laid August 22, 1857, and on Christmas day of that year it 
was dedicated by Bishop Glossbrenner, assisted by W. R. Coursey, I. K. Stat- 
ton and Henry Talhelm. The building committee consisted of William Rine- 



246 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

hart, John D. Cramer, J. C. Kemp, Jacob Perry, Jr., and Peter Kemp. The 
trustees were Jacob Perry, Jr., and William Rinehart, John D. Cramer, Joshua 
Kemp, Edward Baker, Peter Kemp and Cornelius Staley. The house cost 
$1,885, but has been enlarged and greatly improved in recent years. 

The pastors have been : 1 85 7, I. K. Statton and Henry Samuel Evers ; 
1859, L. W. Matthews and T. F. Bushong ; 1861-4, W. T. Lower and J. W. 
Grimm; 1865, C. T. Stearn and J. W. Grimm; 1866, C. T. Stearn and J. D. 
Freed; 1867, J. D. Freed and John Delphy ; 1868, J. W. Kiracofe and J. W. 
Grimm; 1869, J. W. Kiracofe and J. E. Hott ; 1870-1, J. K. Nelson; 1872-4, 

A. M. Evers; 1875-7, J. L. Grimm; 1878, E. Ludwick ; 1879-80, W. Beal; 
1881-3, J. D. Freed; 1884-5, S. H. Snell; 1886-8, W. L. Marton; 1889, E. C. 

B. Castle, L. O. Burtner, D. A. Barshinger, M. L. Mayselles, D. R. Bovey, C. W. 
Stinespring, J. W. Owen, J. E. B. Rice, M. J. Heberly, C. B. McDaniel, Charles 
H. Clark and G. I. Rider. 

MOUNT VERNON CHURCH 

This church, located at Daysville, Maryland, is a frame chapel, 25 x 40 
feet, built during the pastorate of Rev. A. M. Evers, and dedicated by Bishop 
Edwards April 5, 1875. It cost $2,000. Messrs. Secrist, Bastion and Long 
were prominent in the work. The pastors who served "Georgetown Chapel" 
since 1875 served this church also. 

WELLER'S CHURCH 

This historic church is located in Thurmont, Frederick County, Maryland. 
The town was laid out in 1751, and lies at the base of the Catoctin Mountain. 
Jacob Weller was the first settler on the site of the present town, which con- 
tains about two thousand people. Mr. Weller, the first settler, was a teamster 
in the Revolutionary war. His son, Jacob Weller, Jr., built the first hotel in 
the place in 1800. It is now called the "Gilbert House." In 181 1 Mr. Weller 
started an extensive edge-tool manufactory, the first establishment of the kind 
south of New York. It was located on and run by a small stream called 
Fishing Creek, and was operated as a "tilt-hammer forge." Every morning 
Mr. Weller started his tilt-hammer long before daylight, and thus woke the 
whole neighborhood with the fearful noise. He made mill-irons, pump- 
augers, chisels and axes, which were shipped chiefly to the Southern States 
and the West Indies. Moreover, the first lucifer matches made in America 
were manufactured by Mr. Weller and his brother, Joseph Weller, in this 
little mountain village in 1825. The matches were first made into blocks and 
subdivided, first by hand and then by machinery, and then dipped, one by 
one, into the brimstone mixture. The matches sold for twenty-five cents a 
box, which included a piece of sandpaper on which to ignite them. Twice 
the factory was burned down. 

Now, these enterprising Wellers were converted under the ministry of 
Otterbein and his associates in the Gospel, and became members of the United 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



247 




Weller's Church 




Old Mated Hoir<se 



Old Match House 



248 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

Brethren Church and leaders of religious thought and feeling in the commu- 
nity. They were substantial men in matters of religion, and could pray and 
preach the Gospel and win souls as well as they could make matches, and 
axes, and millstones and augers. 

This church was erected in 1 83 1 , when Mr. Jacob Weller, son of the first 
settler, the first lucifer match-maker on the continent, drew up and circulated 
the following paper concerning the church in Thurmont I have the original 
paper before me, signed and sealed by all the trustees, as follows : 



December 11, 1831. 

Whereas, we whose names are underwritten, do think and believe it our duty 
to our God, our posterity and our fellow-citizens, to build and establish a house of 
worship in Mechanicstown, Maryland, for the use and purposes of the United 
Brethren in Christ, and also guaranteeing privileges to ministers of other persuasions 
whose piety and purity of doctrine shall commend them to the trustees, if there be 
no appointment previous to the application. Likewise there will be the privilege 
of burying at the meeting house for all subscribers and successors. Moreover, 
this meeting house shall forthwith be known by the appellation of "Weller's 
Church'' in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Praying that the 
Lord may here record his name, and consecrate this building unto himself, sancti- 
fying the worshipers here and elsewhere unto himself, in time and in eternity, 
through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

JACOB WELLER, B.S. (Blacksmith) 
GEORGE STOKES 
HENRY HEMP 
FREDERICK RIDER 
JACOB MARTIN 



The above paper was the beginning of the United Brethren Church in 
Thurmont, which was erected in 1831, and dedicated the same year on the 
11 th of December. It was built on ground donated by Jacob Weller, who 
was born in Mechanicstown (now Thurmont) January 25, 1 775, and died 
May 6, 1 846. He was the son of Jacob Weller, Sr., who came from Berks 
County in 1850, when the town site was a forest. Here the elder Weller 
built a log house, which he opened for the preaching of the Gospel by Otter- 
bein and his associates, and himself became the leader of religious life and 
labor in the community. His home, which is still standing, was a regular 
preaching place till the church was built in 1831. The time for preaching 
was announced by the blowing of a horn. Jacob Weller, Sr., was a teamster 
in the Revolutionary war. His son Jacob built the first hotel in Mechanics- 
town, the Gilbert House, which is still standing. 

In addition to the original trustees already named, other prominent mem- 
bers of this church were Jacob Perry, David Eyler, Jacob Demuth, Perry Ey- 
ler, Joshua Stokes, James W. Baltzell and Rev. L. W. Martin. Previous to 
1870 the pastors named for the church at Middletown (Baulus Chapel) also 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 249 

served this church, which was then a part of the original circuit. Since 1870 
some of the pastors were J. K. Nelson, W. O. Smith, J. B. Funk, C. M. Hott, 
E. P. Funk, C. I. B. Brane, S. K. Wine, W. R. Berry, W. L. Martin, G. J. Rou- 
dabush, W. E. Dougherty, E. H. Free and G. I. Rider. Previous to 1872 the 
ministers named in connection with the Baulus Chapel, Middletown, up to 
that date, also served Weller's Church, which was on Frederick Circuit then. 
This was the home church of Rev. Isaiah Baltzell. 



DODGE CHAPEL 

This church, which is located in Eyler's Valley, is a stone church erected 
about the beginning of the Civil war. It was originally called Eyler's Valley 
Church, but was named later on for Mrs. Dodge, a wealthy member, who 
made a bequest to its board of trustees. Benjamin Eyler, Joshua Warenfeltz, 
Henry Miller, Charles Eyler and Mrs. Harvey Winters were identified with 
the Dodge Chapel. Its pastors were the same as those of Weller's Church. 



OTTERBEIN CHAPEL 

This church is located in Harbaugh's Valley, and was erected in 1 849, 
for the accommodation of the society that worshiped in the Yost Harbaugh 
home near by. The valley was named after the Harbaugh family, by whom 
it was settled. Yost Harbaugh was a pioneer United Brethren, and was re- 
lated to the Rev. Henry Harbaugh, D.D., an eminent divine of the Reformed 
Church. So, after worshiping in the Harbaugh home for many years, the 
little congregation transferred its services to the new chapel. Daniel Har- 
baugh, son of Yost Harbaugh, Lewis Wertenbaker, Samuel Kline and Lemuel 
Eby were officers of this church. At this church, during a session of the 
quarterly conference, Dr. C. I. B. Brane received license to preach. Rev. H. 
A. Bovey was the presiding elder. 

SABILLASVILLE CHURCH 

This house of worship is located in Sabillasville, and was built in 1872. 
The charter members came from Otterbein Chapel, just a mile down the 
valley. Some of them were : David F. Willar, Cornelius Willar, Samuel More- 
head, Lemuel Eby and Mrs. Hannah Arnsperger. It is a frame structure 
30 x 40 feet, with graveyard attached. 

DEERFIELD CHURCH 

This chapel was erected by the United Brethren about 1878. It is a frame 
house. Cyrus Lantz, James L. Willar and S. W. Harbaugh were the officers. 
The membership is thirty. 



250 LANDMARK HISTORY 



SALEM CHURCH 



This church is located at Wolfsville, Maryland. In this picturesque village, 
nestling among the mountains, John Hoover, Sr., was born January 20, 1777. 
Amid these scenes and associations he grew to manhood, embraced the 
Christian religion and joined the United Brethren Church, in whose fellowship 
he lived and labored till June, 1861, when he died in his eighty-fourth year. 
About the beginning of the century he married Miss Susanna Harshman, and 
straightway his home, a stone structure still standing, became a regular preach- 
ing place. Some years later, in 1 842, the stone church was built in Wolfs- 
ville, and has enjoyed the services of regularly appointed pastors from that 
day to this. The same ministers who served Myersville church also served 
the Wolfsville congregation till 1 906, when F. L. Stine became the pastor ; in 
1907, Charles H.Clark; 1908, W. L. Martin. The early members were : John 
Hoover, Sr., Elizabeth Hoover, John Hoover, Jr., Susanna Hoover, Jacob 
Hoover, Mary Hoover, the Millers, Riders, Coats, Beelers, Eckstines and 
Passes. 

MOUNT OLIVET CHURCH 

This church is located at Pleasant Walk. About one mile northwest of 
Myersville, at the upper end of the Middletown Valley, a union church was 
built of logs about the year 1 775. The United Brethren people bought that 
church and worshiped in it till they were practically driven out by the very 
people from whom they had purchased the property, perhaps in 1852, when 
they built a more comfortable and commodious brick church in Myersville. 
The old church was well and widely known as "Jerusalem Chapel," and many 
fine meetings were held there by the United Brethren, whose membership 
was large and influential. Some of them were : Jacob Rhoads, Jacob Doub, 
Jacob Toms (many Jacobs, you see), Abraham Doub, Valentine Doub, who 
married Peter Kemp's daughter. Conferences and councils and evangelistic 
meetings of great importance took place in Jerusalem Chapel. Mount Olivet 
Church, or "Pleasant Walk," as it is commonly called, stands within a stones 
throw of the site of the old chapel, and includes in its membership the people 
of that neighborhood. 



MOUNT ZION CHURCH 

This house of worship is located at Myersville. It was built in 1852, and 
dedicated by Bishop Glossbrenner in that year. On the 1 7th of December, 
1 890, it was blown down by a storm. Steps were straightway taken for the 
erection of a new church, which was completed in 1 892, and dedicated by 
Bishop Kephart in May of that year. This brick church is beautifully situated 
at the upper end of the village, is of modern type and quite large and con- 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



251 



venient. Moreover, its membership is large and influential, including many 
of the leading people of the town and community, among whom are D. 
V. Harp, Dawson Flook, Charles Eldridge, Rev. Cyrus F. Flook and wife, 
Mrs. Elmer Smith, Mrs. Bettie Horine, and others equally useful. 

MOUNT CARMEL CHURCH 

This chapel, located at Garfield, Maryland, was built and dedicated in 
May, 1902, under the pastoral supervision of Rev. I. Loval, and is several 
miles north of Wolfsville, Maryland. The congregation belongs to the Wolfs- 
ville charge, and is served by Rev. W. L. Martin. The charter members were : 
Isaac Lovell, John W. Kelbaugh, George E. Lovell, John D. Swope, Adam W. 
Toms, Amanda J. Lovell, Mary E. Swope, Carrie V. Kelbaugh. The first five 
named above were the trustees. The church is frame, 30 x 40 feet, and cost 
$1,300.00. 



REV. JOHN HERSHEY AND FAMILY 

The Hershey family has been prominent in the history of the United 
Brethren in Christ from the time it was organized until now, Rev. John Her- 
shey being one of its original founders. 
Indeed, ten or fifteen years before it was 
formally organized in 1 800, he was asso- 
ciated with Otterbein, Newcomer, Geet- 
ing and Kemp in laying the foundation 
of the Church, his home, the stone part 
as shown in the picture herewith given, 
being one of the first preaching places. 
He was a native of Pennsylvania, but 
moved to Washington County, Maryland, 
about the middle of the eighteenth cen- 
tury, and there secured a farm and built 

himself a home on Beaver Creek, about seven miles east of Hagerstown. 
and Newcomer lived within a mile of each other. 

Denominationally speaking, he was originally of Mennonite extraction. 
Tradition says he was intellectually strong, an able preacher, and religiously 
influential. Lawrence says (page 378), "Brother John Hershey departed this 
life March the 4th, 181 1," which I think, is a mistake of one month in time. 
Newcomer says in his "Journal" (page 195), "April 5th. This day Brother 
John Hershey was buried." If I remember correctly, his granddaughter, Miss 
Savilla Hershey, told me that he died a little after midnight, which was prob- 
ably the early morning of April 4, 1811, and was buried the next day — about 
one and a half later. He and his wife sweetly sleep side by side in Fahrney's 
graveyard, a mile or two from his home. The stone part of the house seen 




Home of Rev. John Hershey, Hagers 



He 



252 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 




in cut shows the original house built by Brother Hershey; but the brick part, 
which takes the place of an original log structure, has been added in the last 
fifty years. 

So far as I know, Rev. John Hershey had five sons and two daughters. 

One son, Christian, I think, owned and 
occupied the farm now possessed by 
Mrs. Ezra Burtner, near Brethedsville, 
Maryland. He belonged to the River 
Brethren, but worshiped and labored 
with the United Brethren. Another son, 
David, moved to Montgomery County, 
Maryland, where he lived and died. 
John Hershey, Jr., lived in Hagerstown, 
Maryland, where he became prominent 
and successful in business, having a large 
tanning establishment, which was his 
Graves of Rev. John Hershey and Wife trade. He was one of the original foun- 

ders of the old Hagerstown Bank, still one of the solid financial institutions 
of that city, of which he was an early moderator (mayor) and in 1824, he 
was made chairman of a committee of one hundred to welcome to Hagers- 
town General LaFayettee, who was then on a visit to America. He was also 
the leading spirit in founding our first society in that city — St. Pauls United 
Brethren Church, of which the Rev. A. B. Statton is the faithful and efficient 
pastor. Moreover, he was the first treasurer of the "Benevolent Society of the 
United Brethren in Christ," authorized 
by the General Conference, and organ- 
ized in Hagerstown on May 28, 1822, 
which was practically a preachers' aid 
society. The original constitution, printed 
in Hagerstown, in 1 822, and on coarse, 
yellowish paper, German on one side 
and English on the other, is preserved. 
Pictures of Brother Hershey, and of his 
father's home, and the old barn in which j saac Hershey's Home 

great meetings were held a century ago, are given herewith. 

John Hershey was married to Barbara Hershey, daugher of 
Hershey, a cousin of his, by Father Adam Geeting, in 1807. They lived 
happily together for nearly a half century, when, on August 10, 1854, John 
Hershey died, and the Herald and Torch of the town had this to say concern- 
ing him : "For many years an exemplary member of the Church of the United 
Brethren in Christ, and was imbued with the spirit of Christianity. Whilst he 
walked our streets with enfeebled footsteps, he retained his faculties until 
stricken by a paralytic stroke three days previous to his death. Although from 
the peculiar disease with which he was attacked his tongue was silent, yet his 
countenance portrayed that which he was unable to express, that all was peace 



i\ 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



253 




Rev, John Hershey 



within." The funeral services were conducted by Bishop Russell and Rev. 

Mr. Bachtel. 

His widow, a most precious wife, mother, and Christian, died November 

23, 1875, aged eighty-four years, 

eleven months, and nineteen days. 

She became a member of the 

United Brethren Church in 1809, 

and remained true to Christ and 

the Church to the end, when she 

doubtless received a crown of glory. 
Miss Savilla often told me how 

she used to sweep the little brick 

church on Franklin and Locust 
Streets, where a fine modern struc- 
ture now stands, and make fire in 

the old "ten plate" stove with which 

the chapel was heated. Her brother, 

Joseph A. Hershey, told me how 

his grandfather, Rev. John Hershey, 

opposed slavery, although he owned 

a number himself, but set some 

free and arranged for the liberty 

of the balance, and requested the 

children on his death-bed tojfree them all. When Joseph was a boy and the 

United ^Brethren preachers came to his father's home, he was sent to tell the 

colored boy, who 

belonged to his 
father, to come and 
put the preacher's 
horse away. 

The influence of 
the Hershey family 
in the Church of 
the United Breth- 
ren in Christ, es- 
pecially in and 
around Hagers- 
town, where they 
mainly lived and 
labored, has been 
and still is most 

precious, from first to last. I have known many of Rev. John Hershey's de- 

scendents, but I never knew one who was not a credit to their godly sire and 

the Master whom he served, as well as to the Church of their choice, and the 

community in which they lived. Thank God for such pure, precious people ! 




John Hershey's Barn 



CHAPTER I V 



SOME PIONEER CHURCH SCHOOLS 




H E fact that the United Brethren Church now owns and 
operates fourteen institutions of learning in the various 
sections of the country, including a theological seminary in 
Ohio and an academy on the west coast of Africa, is a pleas- 
ing illustration of the educational interest and enterprise of 
the Church. This significant achievement in the course of 
a century is all the more remarkable and gratifying when we reflect that the 
life of the Church found its earliest embodiment in the thought and feeling of 
a thoroughly rustic class of people, whose environment afforded no inspiration 
to educational sentiment and very meager facilities for the acquisition of 
learning. 

Moreover, running through the pioneer body of our membership there 
was a bias, not against education or learning, but in opposition to a profession- 
ally trained ministry, simply because some of its representatives took no interest 
in the poor and ignorant classes, while others lacked spiritual concern for the 
welfare of souls, or become indifferent to the obligations of a holy life. For 
instance, when the Allegheny Conference established our first institution of 
learning at Mt. Pleasant, Pa., it put upon record a resolution of censure upon 
any member who should hinder the collection of funds by opposing the 
College movement. That action revealed the existence of two facts — the 
presence of a slight but silent influence against the college movement, and a 
fixed purpose on the part of the Conference to suppress or destroy it. The 
silent opposition uncovered by the action of the Conference was not to the 
cause of education, but against the establishment of "preacher factories" as col- 
leges were called by some who clearly saw and deeply felt the weakness and 
inefficiency of a merely intellectually trained ministry. In its righteous recoil 
from excessive trust in theological training, which makes the ministry a mere 
"profession" instead of a divine calling, the pendulum of feeling swung to the 
other extreme and thereby registered, not an aversion to education, but a fail- 
ure to adequately estimate its supplemental value to the Spirit's call and equip- 
ment. Many pioneer ministers, able and eloquent expounders of the Word> 
including those of scholarly attainments, feared the substitution of intellectual 
equipment for the life and power of the Holy Ghost. They all recognized 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



255 




Mount Pleasant College 



and protected the right of uneducated men to enter the ministry when they 

felt divinely called to do so, but urged all 
such to acquire intellectual knowledge by 
private study, and otherwise. 

MOUNT PLEASANT COLLEGE 

Our first "Churchschool" for higher ed- 
ucation was established at Mount Pleasant, 
Pa., by the Allegheny Conference in 1 847. 
It was called Mount Pleasant College, and 
enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity for a 
period of ten years, when its life and influ- 
ence became absorbed in a consolidation 
with Otterbein University, Westerville, Ohio. 
In a special sense this school was the 
child of the Pennsylvania Germans, whose representatives and descendants 
penetrated the western wilds of the state, and finally invested their prayers 
and money in Mount Pleasant College, whose hidden life still enjoys their 
material and spiritual support. The first catalog of that school shows an at- 
tendance of one hundred and ten students — seventy-four gentlemen and 
thirty-six ladies — who were helped to a 
knowledge of the Latin and Greek lan- 
guages and literature by Prof. William R 
Griffith, A.M., and led through the intricate 
mazes of mathematics and natural science 
by Prof. S. S. Dillman. Miss Harriet F 
Marcy had charge of the ladies department- 
Rev. J. L. Holmes, Rev. J. B. Ressler, David 
Keister, David S. Cherry and Samuel Zuck, 
father of Rev. W. J. Zuck, D.D., a splen- 
did teacher and preacher, constituted the 
executive committee of the College. They 

Were all Strong men in every high Sense of Conrad Keister' s Home, Mount Pleasant, Pa. 

the word ; and the latter three were ideal representatives of a noble class of 
laymen, whose wisdom and consecration prevented disintegration through the 
transitional period of our church-life, when the English language was substi- 
tuted for the German, and inspired an educational campaign which resulted 
in the establishment of Mount Pleasant College, whose pulse still beats in the 
life of Otterbein University. 




COTTAGE HILL COLLEGE 



In 1 866 the educational pulse of our Pennsylvania people began to beat 
with higher aims and larger purposes. This awakening resulted in the found- 
ing of two more schools— Cottage Hill College, at York, Pa., and Lebanon 



256 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



■*%**"*% -^ 




Valley College, at Annville. "Cottage Hill" was for young ladies exclusively. 
It was originally established by Rev. John F. Hey, from whom it was pur- 
chased by Bishop Erb, Christian Eberly, and Rev. Daniel Eberly, D.D. The 
latter became president of the school, and finally bought out the Erb and 
Eberly interests and became its sole owner. Under Dr. Eberly' s management 
the school enjoyed six prosperous years and sent out five classes of graduates, 
plus many more whom the college placed in the line of promotion to the same 
goal. Its student body was made up of representatives of many excellent 
families, not only of the United Brethren Church, from which its patronage 
mainly came, but also of other denominations, both in Pennsylvania and in 
Maryland. The buildings were beautifully located in a campus of nine acres 

on the Codorus Creek. The 
grounds were well laid out 
and very attractively orna- 
mented with shade trees 
and shrubbery, as you see 
by the accompanying cut, 
which is a good one. 

In 1 872 Cottage Hill was 
sold to the Episcopal 
Church. About this time 
Dr. Eberly, through whose 
influence and efforts it had 
been brought under United 
Brethren auspices, was called to the presidency of Otterbein University at 
Westerville, Ohio. For a period of forty years Dr. Eberly was prominently 
associated with the educational work of the Church. He was a scholarly 
man, an able preacher, and one of our best instructors. He was the chaplain 
of the popular Eighth Regiment National Guard of Pennsylvania and ranking 
chaplain of the State. 

At this juncture of our educational work, when Cottage Hill passed into 
the hands of another denomination, Lebanon Valley College entered upon 
the enjoyment of a larger patronage and a more unified co-operation. Many 
patrons and pupils transferred their interest and attendance from York to 
Annville, where our educational interest is now materially embodied in six 
fine buildings, five of which are fresh from the hands of the architect, and 
constitute a lovely setting to the handsome campus. Aside from the self-sacri- 
ficing efforts of those who founded the institution, and hundreds of others 
who heroically sustained it from that day to this, Prof. E. Benjamin Bierman, 
who patiently and skillfully perpetuated its life through a financial crisis, and 
Dr. H. U. Roop, whose toil and tact brought a large student-body to the class 
rooms and new buildings to the grounds, deserve grateful recognition. I simply 
speak the truth when I say that this school has accomplished a world of good ; 
and the prospect is that, with its splendid student body, able corps of teachers, 
fine campus and buildings, worth probably half a million dollars, its future 



Cottage Hill College, York, Pa. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



257 



life and labor will multiply increasingly the splendid achievements of the past. 
Dr. L. Keister is the president and he is making good in every way. 

In tracing the educational acts and instincts of our people we must finally 
repair to the pioneer period of their existence, when there was no organized 
expression of thought or feeling on the subject, except as it appeared in the 
"community school" to which I must allude. Previous to 1847, when Mount 
Pleasant College was established, we had no church schools for higher educa- 
tion ; but I know of instances in Maryland and Pennsylvania where United 
Brethren, being numerous and influential in the neighborhood, built houses 
for divine worship and secular education combined. That was the case at 
the historic Antietam appointment where the pastor, Rev. George A. Geeting, 
preached the gospel on Sunday and taught school through the week. Of 
course, the house was a humble one. It was the first church and the first school 
building that the United Brethren erected ; and in its use they wisely united 
the twin powers of reason and righteousness — a splendid and indispensable 

combination. 

ROCKY SPRING SCHOOLHOUSE 

When the society that worshiped at Valentine Doub's, where the general 
church was organized in 1 800, transferred its services to Rocky Spring School- 
house, it entered upon the occupancy of a stone structure that was built for 
school and sanctuary 
purposes. For more 
than thirty years it 
served those two ends 
but it is now used for 
educational purposes 
exclusively. The 
house was built largely 
through the influence 
of the Church, whose 
memberswere people 
of prominence in the 
community. Here the 
writer worshiped on 
Sunday and wrestled 
with "the three RV, 
during the week, re- 
ceiving nutriment for 
head and heart, plus 
an occasional flogging. Of course, there is a wide difference between 
temporal and eternal things, but they were strangely mixed and painfully 
applied in my experiences in that stone schoolhouse. The man who inspired 
my soul on Sunday "tanned my hide" on Monday. The preacher was also 
the teacher, you see. That strange combination of gospel grace and "physical 
culture" I well remember. I enjoyed the one and endured the other. But, 




Rocky Spring Schoolh 



oolhouse 



258 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



aside from the flogging I received in that old schoolhouse, my "physical cul- 
ture" was not acquired in the "gym" nor on the "horizontal bar," but in all sorts 
of useful "tricks" on the farm. I had all the "exercise" I needed and vastly 
more than I wanted. I went to bed ear/p and got up earlier. 

By the way, how I love that old schoolhouse. It recalls those exquisitely 
bright days of childhood, including the boys and girls with whom I played 
forty years ago. It is the embodiment of some of the sweetest memories of 
my life, secular, social and religious. In that old schoolhouse I was converted. 
Within those walls, one bright Sunday morning, I was formally revcived into 
the Church. There I received my first communion. How 1 long to see my old 
pastors, and teachers, and schoolmates. Indeed, / expect to meet them again. 
Some sweet day we shall receive our last call and highest assignment in the 
range of life to which we are exalted through faith in Jesus. Then we shall 
move out of the earthly house of this tabernacle into an over-vestment of 
immortality closely resembling the "glorious" body of our risen Lord. Then 
I shall meet and greet them again. Blessed prospect. 



AN IMMORTAL DREAM 

I dreamed last night of a far-away scene — 
I was once more a boy on the old village 

green, 
At play with the lassies and lads as of yore. 
The same games we played there, two-score 

years and more. 



And now I oft sit at the close of the day, 
Note my locks in the mirror are coloring gray; 
Call the names of the boys and the girls, and 

they seem 
All about me once more on the old village 

green. 



I saw them again in my dreaming last night, 
Took part in the friction, the fun and thefight, 
And lost every button, from bottom to top, 
At cornerball play on the old corner lot, 

My "gallusses" gone, and gone my hat crown. 
My bare feet bedecked with mud of the town, 
And streamlets of "sweat" down my face cut 

their way 
Through patches of dirt I'd collected at play, 

I keep dreaming on with my eyes open wide 
While backward comes sailing o'er memory's 

tide 
The dearest of fellows and girls ever seen, 
The kids I played with on the old village 

green. 

The schoolhouse, the teacher, the hand, seats 

and all 
The battle-scarred frescoers that caught the 

spitball, 
The ink-adorned desks, with the splashes of 

black, 
The art views we drew on the spelling books 

back. 



From the rocky girt coast of the far-off North- 
land, 

To where the sea sobs on the flowery strand, 

They've scattered today, never more to be 
seen 

All at play once again on the old village green. 



On war's bloody field, where the battle waxed 

hot, 
Some sleep where they fell — none but God 

knows the spot — 
Some rest by the Nanticoke's swift-flowing 

side, 
A few are still stemming life's strenuous tide. 



'Tis more than a dream, and I smile, for I 

feel 
The vision that haunts me will some day be 

real ; 
And comrades long parted will somewhere 

convene 
Some time, all together, on God's fadeless 

green. D. H. Kenney. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



259 



RETREAT SCHOOLHOUSE 



Another '"community school" established under the auspices of the Church 
stood on the Monodacy, near 
Frederick City, Md, It was 
built about 1830 and was 
called "Retreat Schoolhouse." 
It was located at the entrance 
of a lovely grove, most of 
which the woodman has failed 
to spare. Here "Uncle Peter 
Kemp," as he was affection- 
ately called, taught school and 
conducted prayer and class 
meetings for many years. 
Joshua Doub, Jacob Perry, 
John Cronise, Peter Kemp 

and the NeidigS, all prominent Retreat Schoolhouse 

people in the community and members of the church, came with their families 
and neighbors to worship in this place; and through the week in winter time 
their children attended school here. 









CHAPTER V 



ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, HAGERSTOWN, MD 




T was about the close of the war of the Revolution when United 
Brethren ministers first began to publish the gospel of peace to 
the inhabitants of Elizabeth Town, as this place was then called, 
after Elizabeth Hager, wife of Jonathan Hager, a German, who 
settled on lands two miles west, about the year 1 739, when this 
fair and fertile valley was covered, almost from mountain to mountain with a 
species of corylus, or hazel bushes, with here and there a clump of trees upon 
which the keen blade of the woodman's ax had not yet been tried, and through 
which wild beasts and wilder Indians roamed at will, the one often in hot pur- 
suit of the other. The site of the town was laid out by Mr. Hager in 1 762 ; 
and 29 years after, it was incorporated, having a population of about 800. 
In 1814, by act of the General Assembly, the name was changed and the 
place called "Hagerstown," by which title the most interesting and rapidly- 
growing town in Western Maryland will likely be known as long as it exists. 
When our ministers first entered this community the war-whoop of the savage 
had but recently died away on the west bank of the Conococheague, beyond 
which the only sign of civilization was an occasional cabin, erected by some 
venturesome pioneer. Then the moral and spiritual condition of the town 
was almost as wild and uncultivated as was the region round about. The 
people were exceedingly fond of dancing, drinking, gambling, horse-racing 
and cock-fighting, to which they gave much time and attention, manifesting 
a decided preference for the Epicurean philosophy. In speaking of the reli- 
gious condition of the town in 1 793, Rev. Dr. Schmucker, pastor of St. John's 
Lutheran Church, of Hagerstown, Maryland, in a sermon preached in 1810, 
says : "The Presbyterians were leisurely waiting God's time, while the Episco- 
pal minister was much more at home in the ball-room and on the turf than in 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



26! 



the pulpit, and only the Methodists were fighting the devil with any vigor." 
By "Methodists" Dr. Schmucher evidently meant United Brethren, who were 
then in a prosperous and growing condition, and that same year erected a 
new chapel on the corner of Franklin and Locust Streets, while the Metho- 
dists still worshiped in private houses. This society was then stronger than 
the Methodist, and included in its membership some of the most substantial 
citizens of the place. When Bishop Asbury visited Hagerstown on the 1 8th 
of June, 1 808, he wrote this in his journal concerning us : "Our German breth- 
ren of Otterbein have shouldered us out." That statement implies an advan- 
tage that supports my claim as to the relative strength of the two societies at 
that time. In explaining who were referred to by Dr. Schmucher in those 
words of commendation, I simply desire to call attention to the helpful influ- 
ence of the United Brethren Church in the early history of the town, when it 
required grace and grit to oppose the popular evils of the day. 

Rev. Francis Asbury visited Hagerstown on the 1 7th of July, 1 776, and 
wrote in his 
journal his 
impression 
of the mor- 
al condi- 
tion of the 
place, 
which isex- 
pressed in 
these 
words : 
"When 
we reach- 
ed Hagers- 
t o w n it 
seemed as 
if satan was 
the c hief 

ruler here St ' Pauls Churcn and Parsonage, Hagerstown, Maryland, (See Page 265) 

The people were very busy drinking, swearing, drumming, etc." In justice to 
the then hilarious citizens of this community, we should remember that Mr. 
Asbury entered the place only thirteen days after the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence was signed, and when the people were probably celebrating that im- 
portant event. The grave preacher, mistaking that extraordinary occasion 
for a common occurrence, naturally concluded that the devil had full charge 
of the proceedings. If I am right in my supposition that the people he saw 
and heard were celebrating "Independence Day," then it is fair to presume 
that, while the "drinking and swearing" proceeded under the sanction and 
authority of satan, the "drumming" was only an innocent exhibition of Amer- 
ican patriotism, which we usually display in a similar manner — only more so. 




*r 



^ffifeip 



If if If 
ftiftft' 



WL&M 



i 



262 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



If the sainted bishop could once more take his stand on Cannon Hill in July, 
substituting the 4th for the 1 7th of the month, and see the long procession of 
marshals mounted on fiery steeds that proudly prance in front of the inevitable 
"drum-major" whose curious tricks and magnificent maneuvers regulate the 
brass band and charm the rustics; military companies gaily dressed and bear- 
ing arms of burnished steel ; the fire department with its attractive modern 
equipments : the various benevolent orders and institutions of the city ; hear 
and see the profanity and wickedness of the lawless and dissipated classes ; 
and at night witness the final pyrotechnic display, when huge balls of fire are 
flung sky-ward and seem to burst among the very stars, making the night sub- 
limely attractive with falling flames of various colors, forming the most beauti- 
ful pictures — if our departed brother could come back and see and hear all 
these sights and sounds, he would likely conclude that the patriotism of the 
community is still strangely and strongly mixed with sin, at least so far as the 
outward demonstration of it is concerned, and that the evil one has not wholly 
lost grip on the proceedings of Indepencence Day, on which occasion the line 
of gravity usually falls outside the bounds of moral propriety, causing the pro- 
cession to move over the broad way of dissipation, as it did under the obser- 
vation of Mr. Asbury more than a hundred years ago. 

The first property owned and occupied by the United Brethren Church 
in this city was bought in 1805, previous to which time our public services 

were held in private 
houses. On the 5th 
day of May, 1805, 
Frederick Kailor 
deeded to George 
A. Geeting, Chris- 
tian Newcomerand 
John Hershey, "the 
westermost half of 
lot number 72, in 
Elizabeth Town, 
containing 41 feet 
in breadth and 240 
in length, tobeheld 
in trust for the "So- 
ciety of United 

Geeting School and Meeting House, 1780 ^1 . . ». » 

Christians, as the 
organization was called. That lot cost $900, and is located on West Wash- 
ington Street, a few doors above the city hotel, and is now owned and occu- 
pied by Mr. J. H. Beachley. On that lot was erected, probably by the trustees, 
a two-story log house, which was afterward weather-boarded. The lower 
part of the house was occupied as a dwelling, while the upper story was used 
for purposes of public worship, being reached from the outside by means of 
a flight of fifteen steps. Messrs. John Albert and William Miller, brothers-in- 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 263 

law, once lived in the lower part of the house, which was afterward occupied 
by a Mr. Swizzler, a lame man, whose wife carried on the millinery business. 
For some of these facts I am indebted to Miss Susan Bell, our esteemed 
neighbor, whose father lived in a log house immediately opposite the "new- 
meeting house," as that humble and unsuitable building was called. When 
William Miller's father came to Hagerstown in 1 806, he moved into the first 
story of the "new church." On the 24th day of May, 1805, just nineteen days 
after the deed was made and one before it was recorded, the house was 
dedicated to God by Rev. George A. Geeting, who took this for his text : "But 
refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godli- 
ness. For bodily exercise profiteth little ; but godliness is profitable unto all 
things, having promise of the life that now is, and that which is to come." 

For five years our people worshiped in the log house on Washington 
Street, holding prayer and class meetings, and breaking the bread of life to 
the people, many of whom were successfully pointed to the Lamb of God, 
and found peace and pardon by believing in him. About this time the society 
was prosperous and peaceful, and grew in spiritual strength and numbers. 

In 1810, for some reason unknown to the writer, perhaps because the 
building was too small and unsuitable, the trustees sold the house and lot on 
Washington Street at an advance of $100, and purchased lot No. 143, 82x250 
feet, situated on the northeast corner of Franklin and Locust Streets, of Jona- 
than Rohaser and John P. Herr, president and secretary of the "German 
Evangelical Reformed Congregation of Zion Church," for the sum of $100. 
The deed was made October 20, 1813, two years or more after the purchase 
and when the last payment was made, I suppose, to Jacob King, George Mar- 
teney, Samuel Beeler, Henry Stotler and Peter Stotler, trustees of the Society 
of the United Brethren in Christ. But before the above deed was made, the 
same year the Washington Street property was sold (1810), a brick church 
was erected on this lot, and the trustees were John Hershey and Brother Mid- 
dlekauff. It cost $1,200, including the lot. In the Telescope of September 10, 
1845, Rev. Robert E. H. Levering, in referring to this new house of worship, 
calls it a "beautiful and convenient brick church," which was strictly true when 
compared to the house they had just left on Washington Street. It set farther 
back on the lot than the present house does, and in front of it, on Franklin 
Street, there were several large locust trees, in one of which, on one occasion, 
a bird's nest was discovered by the boys, who immediately concluded that a 
knowledge of its contents was both necessary and desirable ; so Master Thomas 
Mittag, who was then about ten years old and lived in a stone house that 
stood on the corner of Franklin and Locust Streets, now owned and occupied 
by Mr J. E. Ridenour, undertook the task of inspecting the bird's nest, in 
doing which he fell from the tree and broke his left arm. Not knowing the 
serious nature of the injury sustained, and with the fear of a sound flogging 
before his eyes, young Mittag cautioned the boys not to tell his mother of the 
accident ; but when his playmates saw the helpless condition of his limb, 



264 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

which hung dangling at his side, Mrs. Mittag was informed of his misfortune, 
and Dr. Shuman was called in and set the arm. 

The main entrance was on Franklin Street, but there was also a door on 
Locust Street, used chiefly by those who occupied the gallery. The pulpit, a 
square, box-like arrangement, above which nothing but the preacher's head 
could be seen, was on the right as you entered from Franklin Street, while to 
the left, on the Locust Street side, there was a gallery extending the entire 
length of the building. The pulpit was very high, and was reached by a flight 
of eight or ten steps. The house was heated by means of a "ten-plate stove," 
and the seats were uncomfortable benches. The chapel was without chancel 
or carpet, but there was a "mourners' bench," which is about the only piece 
of furniture we have left to remind us of the days of our fathers, when there 
was certainly less similarity existing between the Church and the world than 
there is today. Rev. Mr. Dresbach was the first preacher who occupied the 
pulpit of the new chapel, and "an early revival gave it an appropriate house- 
warming." 

On the 29th of April, 1818, just eight years after the new chapel was 
erected, the lot and church were sold to William Brazier, Job Hunt, Levin 
Willis, John Weber and Ralph Armstrong, trustees of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, for the sum of $422, and on condition that the United Brethren should 
have free and uninterrupted use of the chapel every alternate Sabbath, and 
at other times when not used by the Methodists, with the use of burying 
ground, each party to pay one-half of the expenses. Twelve years later, on 
the 24th of April, 1830, on payment of $422, this same property was bought 
back by the United Brethren in Christ ; and thus, after worshiping together 
for twelve years, the two societies finally separated, the Methodists going to 
their new home on Jonathan Street, and the followers of Otterbein remaining 
on this sacred spot, where God's people have been confirmed in the hope of 
the Gospel, and thousands of sinners have been prevailed upon to forsake 
sin and embrace the Saviour. 

In the early history of this congregation, when the two societies worshiped 
together, the members of the church and other well-disposed persons were 
frequently annoyed by the rude and wicked conduct of those who came out 
of mere curiosity, or else for the purpose of interrupting the services. Tradi- 
tion says that a wicked wag, during the darkness of the night, placed a 
hornets' nest under a seat in the "amen corner," and when the preacher 
warmed up in the discussion of his subject, and the good people began to get 
happy, the congregation of hornets, who seemed to be more provoked than 
pleased with the services, came forth in wrath and fury, and actually drove 
the saints of God from the camp of Israel. 

The present church building was erected thirty years ago (in 1858), when 
Rev. W. T. Lower was pastor of the congregation, and was dedicated on the 
1st of January, 1859, by Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner, who was assisted in the 
services by Rev. W. R. Coursey and the pastor. The debt on the new church 
on the day of dedication was $494, all of which was secured on that occasion. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 265 

Four years ago, under the efficient pastoral supervision of Rev. W. O. Fries, 
the house erected in 1858 was enlarged and remodeled at a cost of $2,400, 
half of which was collected and paid over under my predecessor's adminis- 
tration, leaving a balance of $ 1 ,300, which has since been reduced to $812.1 6, 
the present indebtedness (see illustration of Hagerstown Church and Parson- 
age on page 261). The reopening services occurred on the 15th of Novem- 
ber, 1885, and were conducted by President DeLong, D.D., of Lebanon Val- 
ley College, assisted by Rev. C. M. Hott and the pastor. 

In 1871, under the pastoral management of Rev. J. W. Kiracofe, the trus- 
tees, D. Schindle, D. Kohler, D. Good, J. B. Shatzer and S. Baker, bought a lot 
on the south side of East Washington Street, between Potomac and Locust, 
and on it erected a fine large parsonage at a cost of $3,500, including the lot. 
The house was built when labor and material were high, and before the 
exchequer of the congregation was sufficiently furnished for such an expensive 
enterprise, and the property had to be sold. 

In the fall of 1887 the board of trustees, G. M. Gruber, H. G. Smith, Levi 
Werst, R. M. Sanders and C. A. Schwinger, concluded to erect a parsonage 
on the vacant lot adjoining the church, where the first one could and should 
have been built, and in less than five months the pastor and his family were 
snugly fixed in the neat and convenient manse on our left, which cost $1,500 
without the lot, and was paid for before the painter's brush had given it the 
finishing touch. The lot, which originally cost but $1 00, is now worth, includ- 
ing the improvements, not a cent less than $40,000. 

Having thus chiefly reviewed the history of the temporal and material 
interests of the congregation, let us briefly consider its spiritual and religious 
progress and development, keeping our eye upon the fact that the true value 
of a church or congregation is measured, not by the size and quality of its 
church house and furnishing ; not by the height of its steeple, the sound of its 
bell, or the tone of its organ ; not by its numerical strength or material wealth, 
but by its spiritual life and usefulness. 

The founder of our church and congregation in this city was Rev. George 
A. Geeting, who was born in Germany in 1 74 1 , but came to America when 
he was only eighteen years old and settled on the Antietam, near Keedysville, 
where he soon after sought and found the Saviour. He was favored of nature 
with splendid mental endowments, which he developed industriously and 
cultivated a keen relish for literary pursuits, and finally became a deservedly 
distinguished preacher, almost as much at home in the English and Latin 
languages as he was in the German. He became the esteemed co-laborer of 
Otterbein and Boehm, and never swerved in his devotion to God and the 
Church. In characterizing the style and preaching ability of those three 
worthies, the historian has this to say : 

"Otterbein was argumentative, eloquent and often terrible in the denunci- 
ation of sin. In the elucidation of the Scriptures clear and thorough, few being 
his equal in these respects." 



266 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



"Boehmwas the plain, open, frank expounder of God's Word; and, being 
full of life and animation, he often carried his congregation before him as if 
they had been borne along by a resistless current." 

''But Geeting was like an early spring sun rising on a frost-silvered for- 
est, which gradually affords more light and heat, until you begin to hear the 
crackling of the ice-covered branches, the dripping of the melted snow, as it 
were a shower of rain, and until a smiling, joyous day appears.'' 

About the year 1 790 Mr. Geeting established an appointment in this 
place, soon after organized a society, and from that on continued to feed the 
flock of God and warn sinners till 1807, when he ceased to be the pastor of 
this congregation. Under his labors the society grew in number and waxed 
strong in spirit, and finally purchased the property on Washington Street. It 
should be gratifying to the congregation to know that its founder was an able, 
pious, consecrated man, who literally gave his heart and life to Jesus and the 
Church, and ceased not to toil till called to his reward on high. While re- 
turning from a visit to Otterbein, in Baltimore, at the home of a Mr. Snyder, 
some thirty miles this side, his brave spirit peacefully and triumphantly quit 
the body, after singing this significant stanza : 



Komm, du lang verlangte stunde, 
Komm, du Lebensgeist von oben 

O wie soil mein froher Munde, 
Jesu deine Treue loben, 

Warm mich deine Liebesmacht, 
Dir zu dienen frei gemacht." 



"Come, thou long expected moment, 
Come, thou Spirit from on high, 
'Tis thy call, my Lord and Master ; 

How shall I express my joy, 
When thy grace and power of love, 
Bids me rise to climes above." 



Thus closed the useful life of the founder and first pastor of this congre- 
gation, who was a resident of the county for fifty years. As an intelligent, 
consecrated servant of God, he was a sample of those who followed him in 
the work here. Let us here pause long enough to run over the list, and 
reverently mention the names of those who unselfishly toiled to promote the 
spiritual welfare of the members of this congregation during the last century. 
Here they are : 

Up to 1807, George A. Geeting; 1807, David Snyder; 1808, Joseph 
Hoffman (appointed to preach in Maryland and part of Pennsylvania) ; 1810, 
Abraham Draksel and others (Maryland and Pennsylvania); 1811, Joseph 
Hoffman and Henry Heistand (Maryland and Pennsylvania) ; 1813, Henry 
Spayth (preached only in Maryland) ; 1814, John Snyder (Hagerstown cir- 
cuit) ; 1816, different ministers (during this year there was a campmeeting 
held at Middlekauff s, four miles from Hagerstown) ; 1818, Conrad Roth (re- 
ceived permission to preach in and around Hagerstown) ; 1819, Daniel Pfeifer 
(Hagerstown circuit) ; 1 820, William Brown and Conrad Weist (Hagerstown 
circuit); 1825, Gideon Smith (Hagerstown circuit); 1827, John Zahn and 
John Eckstine ; 1 828 John Zahn; 1 830, (probably) Rev. Mr. Krack ; 1831, J. 
J. Grossbrenner (Frederick included); 1832, John Dorcas and Peter Whitesel ; 
1833, John Dorcas and W. R. Coursey; 1834, John Haney and W. R. Cour- 



UNITEDBRETHRENCHURCH 267 

sey (Frederick detached); 1835, George Rimal and Jacob Baer ; 1836, George 
Rimal and Martin L. Fries ; 1837, William Knott; 1 838, William Knott and 
Jacob Markwood; 1839, C. W. Zahn and Jacob Markwood ; 1840, George 
Gilbert and John Reubush ; 1841, John Reubush and David S. Spessard ; 
1842, David S. Spessard; 1843, Jacob Bachtel and John Richards; 1844, Ja- 
cob Bachtel ; 1 845, Jacob Bachtel and Richard Nihiser; 1 846, J. E. Bowersox ; 
1 847, J. E. Bowersox and J. W. Miles ; 1 848, J. W. Fulkerson and J. W. Miles ; 
1849, J. W. Fulkerson and one to be supplied; 1850, W. R. Coursey and 1. 
K. Statton ; 1 85 1 , W. R. Coursey ; 1 852, H. B. Winton and David S. Spessard ; 
1853, H. B. Winton and John Perry; 1854, no record ; 1855, J. W. Miles and 
A. G. Grayham; 1856, W. R. Coursey and C B. Hammack; 1857-60, W. T. 
Lower (Station); 1861-62, G. W. Statton; 1863, H. B. Winton ; 1 864, C. T. 
Stearn ; 1865, W. T. Lower; 1866, no record ; 1867, C. B. Hammack and J. 
E. Hott; 1 768, C. B. Hammack and A. Hoover ; 1 869, 1. Baltzell ; 1870-73, J. 
W. Kiracofe; 1872, J. W. Hott and G. W. Lightner ; 1 874, G. W. Statton ; 
1876-77, C M. Hott; 1878, J. W. Funk; 1879, C. W. Stinespring; 1880-83, 
E. Ludwick; 1883, S. H. Snell; 1884-85, W. O. Fries; 1886-90, C I. B. 
Brane. 

Of the seventy-five or more ministers who served this congregation as 
pastor about fifty-eight have joined the silent majority. They rest from their 
labors and their works do follow them. We should hold them in grateful 
remembrance for the sacrifices they made traveling almost continually and 
preaching the Word night and day. In 1811 the pastors of this congregation 
preached at many places in Carroll, Frederick and Washington Counties, and 
also traveled the Cumberland Valley from the Potomac to the Susquehanna. 
In that territory we now have about fifty pastors, who preach to more than 
fifty thousand people every Sabbath. 

In reviewing the history of this congregation I must make special mention 
of the names of Christian Newcomer and John Russel, who were not natives 
of the county, but residents of it, the former living in the vicinity of Beaver 
Creek and the latter near Keedysville. They were both Germans, and both 
made full proof of their ministry, being able, earnest ministers, and finally be- 
came bishops in the Church. Newcomer was born in Lancaster County, Pa., 
on the 21st of January, 1 749, and afterward became a resident of this county, 
together with his two brothers, Henry and Peter. His father's name was 
Wolfgang Newcomer, who came from Switzerland to this country when he 
was a child. Christian Newcomer was converted when he was about eigh- 
teen years old, and connected himself with the United Brethren in Christ, and 
in that Church he lived and labored as an honored member, minister and 
bishop until March 1 2th, 1 830, when he died in great peace. His funeral 
was attended by a vast multitude of people, and German and English services 
were conducted by Bishop Henry Kumler and Rev. John Zahn. His body 
rests in the family burial ground near Beaver Creek. I have seen and heard 
it stated that, nine days before his death, Bishop Newcomer left home on 
professional duty, and his horse took fright and threw him, breaking several 



268 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

of his ribs, and that this accident resulted in his death. 1 have not been able 
to verify the statement, except by Scharf's History of Western Maryland, 
which I have found quite unreliable in church matters. For instance, in 
speaking of Mr. Newcomer, Mr. Scharf says, ''He was a bishop of the German 
Methodist Society for fifty years ;" and at another place in the same volume, 
in speaking of the same person, he says : "Mr. Newcomer became a noted 
minister of the German Reformed Church, and eventually a bishop of that 
denomination." A bishop in the German Reformed Church is certainly a 
new thing under the sun ! 

Bishop John Russel was born on Pipe Creek, Carroll County, Maryland, 
March 1 8, 1 799. He was converted in early life, and became an able preach- 
er and liberal supporter of the Church, and contributed much to its spiritual 
and material prosperity. Among the honored members of this congregation 
are his daughter and grand-daughter, Mrs. Ann Emmert, who has never 
swerved in her devotion to the Church in which her father and mother lived 
and died, and Mrs. Nannie Wolf, her daughter. And then there was Rev. J. 
J. Glossbrenner, who was born in this town on the 24th of July, 1813, and 
became a member of this congregation when he was but seventeen years old. 
Two years later he was licensed to preach and received into the Virginia 
Conference, and from that time to the day of his death, which occurred three 
years ago, he was a bright and shining light in the world. He entered the 
ministry of this Church at a critical period of its history, and subsequently 
exerted a controlling influence upon its general management. About this 
time many of our congregation were in a transition state, and substituted the 
English for the German language, in doing which we lost thousands of mem- 
bers, who went chiefly to the Methodist Church. The English language was 
used more and more in the community, and our young people demanded its 
use in the church services, especially in the pulpit, while the old members 
were often reluctant to give up their mother tongue, or else were unable to 
secure the services of ministers in our Church who could speak the English 
language. The Methodist Church used the English language exclusively in 
public worship in this town, and therefore many of our young people wor- 
shiped with them, and finally became members of that Church. 

In 1831 Virginia Conference was organized, and Glossbrenner was ap- 
pointed to Hagerstown circuit. He preached in English exclusively, and was 
instrumental in saving the Church many of our young people, who demanded 
the introduction of the English language in the public services of the Church. 
From 1831 to 1 845 he labored most faithfully and efficiently as pastor and 
presiding elder, and was then elected bishop, in which capacity he served 
the Church for forty years. His preaching was plain and precious, earnest 
and edifying, and through his influence thousands of people were saved from 
sin and death. The fact that this society was instrumental in the conversion 
and introduction into the ministry of J. J. Glossbrenner, even if it had done 
nothing else, would more than compensate for all the toil and sacrifice of 
those who first labored to establish the Church in this community. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH' 



269 



Rev. J. M. Hershey, another faithful and efficient minister of the New- 
Testament, was converted and brought into the ministry through the instru- 
mentality of this congregation, and joined the annual conference in 1833, and 
subsequently moved west and joined the St. Joseph Conference, of which he 
was an active and useful member till he died. 

In the early history of this congregation among the most prominent lay- 
men were Jacob Braizer, John Hershey, George Marteney, Andrew New- 
comer, Jacob King, 
Samuel B e e 1 e r, 
Henry and Peter 
Stotler and Brother 
Middlekauff. These 
men were all prom- 
inent members of 
the church, and 
many of them were 
so in the secular 
interests and enter- 
prises of the com- 
munity. Mr. Jacob 
King was a wagon 
maker, and once 
lived in the rough- 
cast house next to 

Marr's shop, On Jacob King's Home 

West Franklin Street above Jonathan. A gentleman who knew him personally 
told me that he was a splendid man religiously, and was in good temporal 
circumstances. Other members of his family belonged to the church, and 
among them his son Daniel, who was a blacksmith, but finally kept a grocery 
store. 

George Marteney, Sr., was another prominent member of the congrega- 
tion, and once lived in the stone house now occupied by Mr. S. Nyman, on 
West Franklin Street, where he carried on the business of making saddle- 
trees. In 1 820 he was one of the commissioners of the town. His wife and 
children also belonged to the church. One of his sons (George, I think) made 
chairs and spinning wheels, and atone time conducted his business in a stone 
house that stood on the lot now occupied by Mr. Bloom's new warehouse on 
North Potomac Street. Mr. Thomas Mittag remembers him well, because he 
stopped to turn the grindstone for him one morning, which made him late at 
school. Young Mittag got a penny for turning the grindstone, and a sound 
flogging for being late at school. He died on the 18th of January, 1850, and 
the Herald of Freedom, in its issue of the 23d of the month and year, contained 
the following obituary: "In this place, on Friday last, Mr. George Marteney, Sr., 
aged 85 years, 1 1 months and 1 8 days. In the death of Mr. Marteney our 
town has lost one of its aged patriarchs, the community an honest, good citi- 




270 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 




George Marteney's Home 



zen, and the church a consistent member. Through a long life, sixty years 
of which were spent in this town, Mr. Marteney sustained the character of an 
upright man, a kind neighbor, a good citizen and faithful Christian. Thus 

one after another 
our fathers are 
passing away, 
and soon, very 
soon indeed, will 
all those who 
lived in the days 
which tried men's 
souls, and gave 
birth to the splen- 
did fabric of civil 
government,have 
been gathered to 
their fathers. But 
those of them 
who possessed 
the shining vir- 
tues of the de- 
ceased will live 
in the re mem- 

brance of the good of posterity long after their mortal bodies shall have 
returned to dust. On Sunday morning last the remains of the deceased were 
interred in the burial ground attached to the church of the United Brethren 
in Christ, of which denomination of Christians he was an exemplary member. 
The funeral obsequies were attended by an immense concourse of relatives, 
friends and acquaintances, and appropriate addresses were delivered in the 
German and English language by the Rev. Mr. Russel and Rev. Mr. Mark- 
wood." 

Four years after Mr. Marteney died, Brother John Hershey, father of Jo- 
seph A. and Miss Savilla Hershey and Mrs. Resh, honored members of this 
congregation, fell asleep in Jesus, and the Herald and Torch of August 1 6, 
1854, has this to say of him: "In this town, on Thursday morning last, Mr. 
John Hershey, aged 83 years, 5 months and 23 days. Thus our old men are 
daily falling and passing away to the spirit land ; and one and another of the 
links in the chain which binds the present to the past are snapped asunder 
by the inexorable hand of death, until that connection will soon exist only 
upon the pages of history. Mr. Hershey was one of our oldest and most 
worthy citizens, having become a resident of this town more than fifty years 
ago, and having sustained a very respectable public and an amiable domestic 
character. In him his aged wife, the partaker of his joys and sorrows for so 
many years of his life, and his family of children, lament the loss of an affec- 
tionate husband and a tender father, and the church one of its most valuable 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 271 

members. For a period of at least twenty-five years, or since we have known 
the deceased, he was a leading and exemplary member of the United Breth- 
ren in Christ, to the support of which he always contributed largely and 
cheerfully of his substance, freely tendering to its ministry a home at his house 
during their labors in this place, and always taking a deep interest in the 
affairs of this worthy denomination of Christians. But the old patriarch's 
spirit, freed from its clayey tenement, has ascended to worship in the Church 
Triumphant, while his body reposes near the church militant, at whose altar 
he bowed so many years in an humble sense of his dependence upon its 
great Author. 

"The remains of Mr. Hershey, followed by a large train of relatives, ac- 
quaintances and friends, were interred in the burial ground attached to the 
church of the United Brethren in this town on Saturday last, and two feeling 
discourses, one in German by Rev. John Russel and the other in English by 
Rev. J. Bachtel, were delivered on the solemn occasion." 

Brother John Hershey was also prominently identified with the business 
affairs of the community, and was mayor of the town, or "moderator," as it 
was then called, in 1819, and also in 1823 and 1824. For eight or ten years 
he was one of its four commissioners. On the 27th of October, 1824, at the 
court house in that place, at a meeting called for the purpose of making ar- 
rangements for the entertainment of General Lafayette, who was expected to 
visit Hagerstown soon after, a committee of one hundred citizens of the county 
was appointed, and Brother John Hershey was its chairman. He was a son 
of Rev. John Hershey, a faithful member and minister of the United Brethren 
Church. 

But these dear old fathers are gone, both ministers and laymen, and many 
of their bodies sleep under the sod in the rear of the church. At least three 
of the pastors sleep with the flock they helped to feed, as follows : Conrad 
Weast, Richard Nihiser and Martin L. Fries. After a life of toil and self-de- 
nial, patience and prayer, mutually bearing each others' burdens, it seems 
appropriate that these bodies should sleep together under the same sod, near 
the same church ! Peace to their ashes ! 

"Their toils are past, their work is done, 
And they are fully blest ! 
They fought the fight, the victory won, 
And entered into rest." 

Many important and successful meetings were held in the little chapel 
our fathers first erected on this corner, and distinguished ministers of this and 
other denominations frequently occupied its pulpit. As I have already quoted, 
"an early revival gave it an appropriate house-warming ;" and on the 24th of 
May, 1814, the annual conference met in it, and Mr. Newcomer says it was 
the most successful conference yet held. On the 27th of August, 1812, dur- 
ing his last visit to Hagerstown, Bishop Asbury, of the Methodist Episcopal 



272 



LANDMARK HISTORY 



Church, preached in the neat, new chapel, as he called it, to about one hun- 
dred hearers; and on Sunday night, February 16, 1823, the celebrated Loronzo 
Dow occupied this pulpit. 



YOST HARBAUGH 

Born January 1 1, 1 771, the subject of this sketch lived nearly half his life 
in the last century, his death occurring June 22, 1 839, at the age of sixty-eight 

years, five months and 
eleven days. He was the 
fifth son of Ludwig Har- 
baugh, who was the second 
son of Yost Harbaugh, a 
native of Switzerland and 
the first of the Harbaughs 
to settle in America. Per- 
haps the Swiss instinct of 
the family led them to settle 
in one of the most pictur- 
esque spots in the South 
Yost Harbaugh Home Mountain range, which took 

and retains their name, "Harbaughs Valley." It is located in the northwestern 
corner of Frederick County, Maryland, and is now a thickly-settled, well-culti- 
vated and prosperous community. The Harbaughs were strictly brought up 
in the faith of the Reformed Church, but Yost, the son of Ludwig, identified 
himself with the United Brethren in Christ, and made his home one of the 
first preaching places of the denomination. 

On the 21st of December, 1 795, less than two months after he made the 
first entry in his journal, 
Newcomer mentionsthefact 
that on that day he "had a 
meeting at Brother Har- 
baugh's," and four months 
later, on the 2 1 st of April, 
1 796, he says: "I preached 
this day at Brother Har- 
baugh's, where the storm 
had also done great dam- 
age. The barn was uncov- 
ered, several outhouses were 
leveled to the ground, and 
in an extensive orchard near 
the house, barely a tree was left standing." Four years later, on Friday, April 
24, 1 800, he says : "Today I set out again on the circuit ; preached and met 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



273 



the class at Harbaugh's." Three months later he says : "I preached at Yost 
Harbaugh's;" and on Tuesday, July 25, 1826, which is a quarter of a century 
later, he mentions his name for the last time in this way : "I rode to Yost 
Harbaugh's, and stayed for the night." 

Yost Harbaugh's children were Thomas, William, Daniel, Elizabeth, who 
married Charles Smith ; Sarah, who married Henry Fitz, and Sophia, who 
married John Nagle. Daniel, third son of Yost, died in 1874, and the writer 
officiated at the funeral. He 
owned and occupied the old 
homestead after his father 
died, but finally sold it to 
Lewis Wertenbaker, a firm 
and faithful member of our 
Church, whose son George 
now owns and occupies the 
place. A part of the original 
dwelling, built by Yost Har- 
baugh more than a hundred 
years ago, is still standing. It 
is about one hundred and twenty-five years old, and the cut is a fairly good 
likeness of it. The building faces east. We also give a cut of the old barn, 
in which the "great meetings" were held. It is the same barn that Newcomer 
says was unroofed by the storm in 1 796. It looks at least one hundred years 
older than it appears in the picture. 

Just back of the barn Yost Harbaugh and his wife were buried ; but when 
Otterbein Chapel was built near by, in 1 849, their bodies were removed to 
the new cemetery, where they sweetly sleep with those of their friends who 
have since died. Here in this chapel, beautifully situated in the heart of Har- 
baughs Valley, the writer was licensed to preach by the quarterly conference 
of Frederick Circuit, Rev. H. A. Bovey elder, in 1870. It is a log house, 
"weather-boarded," about forty by thirty feet, and faces the west. It is located 
on the east side of the valley, which runs north and south. 




Otterbein Chapel 



HENRY HEMP 



Henry Hemp was born in Frederick County, Maryland, April 27, 1784, 
of German parents, whose Christian example early influenced him to accept 
Jesus as his personal Saviour. He immediately united with the United Breth- 
ren Church, and worked hard to build it up wherever he lived. On June 1 , 
1813, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Snook, of near Monocacy, a most 
estimable Christian woman of twenty summers. These happy young people 
were but fairly started upon life's journey with a daughter and son, Rebecca 
and John, when God saw fit to call unto himself this lovely young wife, who 
died February 24, 1816. The two little children were very tenderly cared 



274 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 




lenry nemp 



for by a loving and devoted sister of Mr. Hemp. Thus, with Elizabeth's help* 
Mr. Hemp kept the family together until May 16, 1817, when he was married 

to Miss Elizabeth Keller, of Jefferson, Frederick 
County, Maryland. Miss Keller was a charming 
Christian woman, who devoted her life to the duties 
of making a happy home for her husband and his 
little ones, whom she accepted as the objects of 
her special care and affection, and Mr. Hemp's aged 
father, who remained with them until April 1 5, 
1 834, when he died. These young people worked 
hard and soon succeeded in building up a prosper- 
ous and happy Christian home ; and unto them 
were born ten children, five sons and five daugh- 
ters, who were reared on the beautiful farm near 
Lewistown, Maryland, recently owned by Mr. G. 
W. Miller, to which Mr. Hemp's father came when 
he arrived from Germany. As the sons and daugh- 
ters grew up Mr. Hemp realized the impossibility of securing land for all of 
them in that country ; so he determined to move to Ohio, where land was 
then very cheap. Consequently, in the spring of 1 838, he moved in wagons 
across the Alleghenies to their new home west of Germantown, Montgomery 
County, Ohio. They endured many privations in their new home. Instead 
of the large brick house they left in Maryland, they now had only a log cabin; 
instead of a large barn, they found only a small log pen ; instead of improved 
roads, they found only the narrow, muddy wagon tracks. But these things 
did not discourage them. Asking God's blessing upon their efforts, prepara- 
tions were immediately made to build, and the next summer, 1 839, a brick 
house took the place of the log cabin, and soon a good frame barn was built 
to receive crops which grew upon the rich soil. Thus a beautiful farm was 
carved out of the thick forest. Some of the children made homes of their 
own. All were busy, prosperous and happy, when it was discovered that the 
wife was the victim of cancer. After an awful experience of two years' suf- 
fering, she went home to rest May 12, 1842, being then forty-five years and 
ten months old. This affliction fell heavily upon the young daughters, who 
were compelled to take charge of the family, a duty they most cheerfully 
accepted and performed until January 28, 1 844, a very, very stormy day, when 
Mr. Hemp was married to Miss Mary Thomas. Mr. Hemp remained upon 
the farm until God called him from earth's trials July 7, 1 868, aged eighty-four 
years, two months and ten days. He was laid by the side of his second wife 
in the Judy graveyard, just west of the home in Montgomery County, Ohio. 
Two little daughters having died in Maryland, ten children and wife were 
left to mourn the loss of a devoted Christian husband and father. In the 
providence of God, on February 15, 1889, the widow was summoned to meet 
the Judge before whom we must all appear. 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



275 



Mr. Hemp was a faithful member of the Church, as were also some of 
his children, Philip and William being active and influential in its work and 
worship. His grandson, Mr. Samuel Grubbs, of Greenville, Ohio, to whom I 
am indebted for this sketch, was also an active member for some years. 



REV. JACOB THOMAS 




Rev. Jacob Thomas was born about 1 745, and lived near Boonsboro, 
Maryland, where he owned a large tract of land, which was later on divided 
into several large farms, one of which be- 
came the property of his son-in-law, Mr. 
Conrad Nicodemus, at whose home the 
conference of 1 820 convened. Mr. Thomas 
was a German, and became associated with 
Otterbein, Geeting and Newcomer in the 
early history of the revival movement which 
resulted in the organization of the United 
Brethren Church, in which he was a prom- 
inent pioneer minister. He had six sons 
and about as many daughters, one of whom 
married Conrad Nicodemus. Solomon and 
Noah G. Thomas, and also their cousin, 
Jacob A. Thomas, all noble Christians and Nicodemus' Mill 

prominent members of the United Brethren Church, were grandsons of Rev. 
Jacob Thomas, who sleeps on the bank of the Antietam at old Mount 
Hebron. 

Conrad Nicodemus became intimately associated with the United Breth- 
ren Church, if not an active member. Mrs. Nicodemus, nee Thomas, was an 
earnest, faithful member and entertained the conference of 1 820 at her home, 
which was on the road between Boonsboro and Keedysville. This was one 
of the regular preaching places of the Church. Nicodemus' Mill, which the 
writer remembers well, stood near the pike in a state of decay until a few 
years ago, when it was torn down. The accompanying cut is a picturesque 
reminder of the conference of 1 820, which met in the home near by, and 
held (it is said) some of its sessions or services in this mill. The conference 
convened at the Nicodemus home May 2, 1 820, and continued in session 
three days. Twenty-two ministers were present, and the stationing committee 
report is as follows : 

Baltimore, John Snyder ; Hagerstown Circuit, William Brown and Conrad 
Weist; Juniata Circuit, John Brown; Virginia Circuit, Daniel Pfeiffer and 
James Donohou. Moreover, they elected presiding elder for each pastorate, 
as follows : George Geeting, Samuel Huber, Abraham Mayer and John Neidig. 
That was the day of presiding elders. Christian Newcomer was the bishop, 
Abraham Mayer was chairman, and John Hildt secretary. John Hildt, George 



276 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



Brown, Daniel Pfeiffer and Henry Werte were ordained. It was a good con- 
ference. Conrad Nicodemus was born in 1 777, and died in 1834. Buried at 
Boonsboro, Maryland. 



TWO PIONEER TRUSTEES 

Frederick Rider was born March 8, 1 795, and died in Eyler's Valley 
May 23, 1880. Funeral services were conducted in Wellers Church by Revs. 
J. D. Freed and W. L. Martin. 

Jacob Martin was born in Frederick County, Maryland, August 1 3, 1 809, 
and died at Clearspring, York County, Penn'a, December 31,1 890, and is 
buried at Gardners United Brethren Church, Adams County, Penn'a. Rev. 
Oliver Diller conducted the funeral services. Mr. Martin was gifted in song, 
and was for many years an official member of the congregation that worshiped 
in Wellers Church. The last thirty years of his life was spent in Pennsyl- 
vania. He was a shoemaker, and Rev. Isaiah Baltzell learned that trade under 
him. While working for Mr. Martin young Baltzell was converted, and the 
old shoemaker encouraged him to enter the ministry. 



THE SHIPMAN HOME 

This is a picture of the home of Mrs. Shipman, Dayton, Virginia, taken 
in 1 880. It includes a group of students from Shenandoah Institute, located 
one square away. The persons 
appearing in the picture are : Mrs. 
Shipman, who stands first to the 
left, inside the yard ; Mr. Cook, 
Fred Davis, Will Funkhouser, a stu- 
dent, L.O. Burtner, Ella Funkhouser, 
Belie Huffman and C. I. B. Brane. 
The three in the foreground, from 
left to right, are John Huffman, Tur- 
ner Funkhouser and A. N. Horn. 
These were all students at the In- 
stitute except Mrs. Shipman and 
the writer, the former being the lady 
of the house, and the latter the pas- 
tor of Dayton Circuit. Mr. Cook Mrs Shipman's Home 
was a fine young man, very poor but persevering, and became a very suc- 
cessful physician. He is dead. Mr. Will Funkhouser lives at Bell Mead, New 
Jersey, where he owns a fine farm. Mr. L. O. Burtner became a United 
Brethren minister, and also served as a missionary in Africa and the Philip- 
pines. He died in Dayton, Ohio, in 1910. Mr. Huffman, son of Mrs. Ship- 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



277 



man, became a dentist, married Miss Annie Burtner, and moved to New York, 
where he died a year or two later. Mr. Turner Funkhouser lives near Wash- 
ington City. Mr. Horn became a United Brethren minister, and is now an 
active pastor. Miss Belie Huffman married Mr. John D. Harp, Benevola, 
Maryland, where they now live. Mr. Harp farms extensively. Miss Ella 
Funkhouser became the wife of Prof. James H. Ruebush, who is now the 
president of Shenandoah Collegiate Institute, in which these young people 
were then students, and of which the Rev. W. J. Zuck, D.D., was the presi- 
dent. This picture awakens many tender memories, and recalls scenes and 
associations of the most sacred and abiding nature, including blessed fel- 
lowships. 



REV. HENRY BURTNER 



The subject of this sketch was born in Cumberland County, Penn'a, on 
the 6th of May. 1 800. When he was eighteen years old he was converted at 
one of the "great meetings" held near his home in the Cumberland Valley ; 
and three years later he became a member 
of the original conference and received an 
appointment as an itinerant minister. On 
his twenty-first birthday he left his father's 
home for his first field of labor, which in- 
cluded appointments in Pennsylvania, Mary- 
land and Virginia. 

When Mr. Burtner was about twenty- 
five years of age he married Miss Margaret 
Stotler, daughter of Peter Stotler, of near 
Leitersburg, Washington County, Maryland, 
who was a prominent pioneer member of 
the United Brethren in Christ, his home 
being one of the original preaching places 
a century ago. Soon after his marriage Mr. 
Burtner settled near Dayton, Rockingham 
County, Virginia, where he spent the bal- 
ance of his life as a farmer and local 
preacher, serving many years as presiding 
elder. He was a delegate to two general 
conferences — those of 1 829 and 1 849. 

In disposition and spirit he is said to Rev Henry Burtner 

have been charmingly genial, especially in the social circle, where his conduct 
was as prudent as his presence was agreeable. His hospitality was pure and 
boundless, and his home was the ministers' resting place — "the preachers' 
home," in fact. He was also a liberal giver to those who labored in the min- 
istry of the Church. 




278 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



In personal appearance Mr. Burtner was prepossessing, having a fine 
face and form, whose charms were supplemented with graceful manners. 
Indeed, these features are embodied in the accompanying cut, which was 
made from a portrait taken about 1845. 

As a preacher Mr. Burtner is said to have been remarkably clear and 
deep, two excellent qualities. His beautiful eyes reflected the spiritual fire of 
his soul when he preached the Gospel, which he did with much fervor, rarely 
failing to interest and edify his hearers. 

He had the following children, and perhaps others of whom I do not 
know : George P., Solomon, Rev. William H., Ezra, and Mary, all of whom, 
except Ezra, lived anddied in Rockingham County, Virginia. Ezra lived and 
died near Hagerstown, Maryland. 

The daughter Mary was an exceptionally spiritually minded individual, 
and died in great peace and triumph several years before her father. When 
he came to the bank of the river a few years later, he saw the spirit of his 
dear child on the opposite shore, and affectionately exclaimed, "Mary! Mary!" 
Thus he died on the 5th of January, 1857; and nine years later, on the 29th 
of March, 1 866, his faithful wife died in her sixty-ninth year. They are buried 
at Dayton, Virginia. 

MRS. VALENTINE DOUB 



Mrs. Esther Doub, wife of Valentine Doub, one of the most prominent 
laymen in the early history of the United Brethren Church, was born near 

Frederick City, Maryland, November 1 2, 
1785, and died January 26, 1866, aged 
eighty years, two months and fourteen 
days. She was a daughter of Rev. Peter 
Kemp, one of the founders of the Church, 
at whose home the conference of 1 800 
was held. There she was born and 
there she lived and died, highly and 
universally esteemed by all who knew 
her. From early youth to old age she 
was an earnest, faithful Christian, and 
her long life was given to Christ and the 
Church. Her father's house was better 
known and more frequently resorted to 
by the early ministers and members of 
the United Brethren Church for purposes 
of worship, counsel and communion than 
any other home that I know of, unless it 
was the home of Otterbein. Indeed, it 

Mrs, Valentine Doub ,. . 1.1 

was a religious centre where the conver- 
gent sentiments of a widely scattered but spiritually inspired and united peo- 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



279 



pie met and took the form of an organized interest and effort in behalf of 

experimental Christianity, and thence sent out an influence that has rescued 

millions from sin, and is now embodied 

and exemplified in the lives and labors 

of a large and godly membership. To 

this magnificent result no one person 

probably contributed more largely or 

substantially than did Mrs. Valentine 

Doub. 

About the year 1 836, chiefly through 
the influence of this good woman, a Sun- 
day School was organized at her home 
under the management of the following 
officers: David Kemp (a neighbor and 
relative of Mrs. Doub), superintendent; 
Ezra Doub (her son, I think), assistant 
superintendent; teachers, Mrs. David 
Kemp, Mrs. Ezra Doub, Mrs. Cornelius 
Staley, the Misses Schultz and the Misses 
Preston. Miss Kate Hoover and Mrs. 
Marietta Doub, widow of William Doub, 
grandson of Mrs. Valentine Doub, at- 




Mrs. Joshua Doub 



' 



£ 



4> 



Joshua Doub 

Mrs. Valentine Doub 
had three sons, Joshua, who 
married Miss Brewbaker, 
who lived but a year or 
two, and after whose death 
he married Miss Sarah Reif- 
sneider ; Ezra, who married 
Miss Mary Reifsneider, his 
brother's wife's sister, and 
Valentine, who married 
Elizabeth Snook, daughter 



tended this Sunday School, which was probably 
the first one organized under the auspices of the 
United Brethren Church in Frederick County, 
Maryland. Miss Hoover and Mrs. Doub are 
faithful members of the Church. 

Through the courtesy of Mrs. William H. Doub 
I am permitted to present the accompanying 
picture of Mrs. Valentine Doub, and also her 
son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Joshua 
Doub. Near here the Perry boys went to school, 
James, Jacob, Henry and John, the latter a faith- 
ful minister of West Virginia. 



m 


j 


*J 


Mk 


*L 




JjJ 


; ' """Til 

1 


- . 


HHHraHHl 




1 



The Perry Home 



280 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



of Mr. John Snook, a prominent pioneer member of our Church. The Sun- 
day School that was organized by Mrs. Valentine Doub, or "Aunt Esther," as 
she was familiarly called, was held in the beautiful yard surrounding the Doub- 
Kemp home in summer time, and at other times in the two large rooms of the 
dwelling-house, which still stands. To this school in the early days of United 
Brethrenism, came all the people of the community — the Kemps, the Schultzs, 
the Albaughs, the Whitmores, the Staleys, the Bakers, the Brewbakers, the 
Branes, the Martzs, Miss Kate Hoover, and many others. 



OUR FIRST CHURCH HISTORIAN 



In the earlier days of our Church the name of Rev. Henry G. Spayth was 
familiar and frequently mentioned. He wrote the first connected history of 
our denomination. It has long been out of print, but will be found in most 

of the libraries of our 
older itinerants. His 
first work as a minister 
was done in Maryland 
and Virginia,his name 
first appearing on the 
conference list in that 
section for the year 
1812. When the Gen- 
eral Conference con- 
vened in Westmore- 
land County, Penn'a, 
in 1815, he attended 
as a delegate from 
Virginia. He was 
elected and served as 
one of its secretaries. 

Grave of Rev. Henry G. Spayth He Was of German 

descend, and possessed superior gifts, especially in matters of counsel. He 
exerted an important influence in this first General Conference. He was a 
member of six subsequent sessions. It has been remarked of him that "Per- 
haps few men did more to shape the polity of the Church from 1815 to 1845." 
In 1835 he became a member of the Sandusky Conference, and lived at Tiffin, 
Ohio, until his death, September 2, 1873. His remains were interred in a 
family vault near the entrance of the cemetery of that city. We are glad to 
give our readers an excellent picture of it. We acknowledge the kindness of 
Rev. W. R. Arnold, pastor of our Church in Tiffin, who sent us the photograph 
from which the cut was made. [The above is from the Children's Friend.] 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 281 



if'f%: 




Pennjyhania, ff> 

thonotary of the Supream Genre 
of the Province of Pennfylvania^ 
D O hereby certify, That at a Suprearri Court held at Phi- 
ladelphia, for the faid Province of Pennfyhanm, the 
ltw0i>ttUBzy of Jfynst^J in the Year of our Lord, 
One Thou) r and Seven Hundred and n/^tu /iiM^ Before 

Efquires,* Judges of the 7 faid Court, BteG&eeif the Hours or 
Nine and Twelve of the Clock in the Forengpn of the fame 

Day, ^tc/ro (#*3&£tL — — of t7^f^e+j~JC&+x-. 

in the County of %&&&* 
being a Foreigner, and having inhabited andirefided for the 
Space of Seven Years in His Majefty's Colonies in America^ 
and* not having been abfent out of fome of trj- faid Colonies 
for a longer Time than Two Months at any jne Time dur- 
ing the faid Seven Years. And the faid X^^f uf^^ 

having produced to the laid (?'ourt, a Certi- 
ficate, of his having taken the Sacrament of Ue Lord's Sup- 
per within Three Months before the faid Court, took and 
fuhfcribed die, Oaths, and did make and repeq: the Declara- 
tion (appointed by an Act, made- in «. M e rirft Year of the 
Reign ct King GEORGE the Firfi) according to the 
Directions of an Ad: of Parliament^ made in the Thirteenth 
Year of His late Majefty King G EO RGE the Second, 
intitule"!, An Aci for naturalizing fuch foreign Proteftants % 
end others, therein mentioned^ as arc fettled in any of His 
Majcflys Colonies in America ; arvd thereupon was admitted 
to be His Majefty's nat ura l born Subject of the Kingdom of 
Great-Britain, purfuant to the Direction and Intent of the 
faid Act of Parliament. In Tejiimony whereof, I have here- 
unto fet my Hand a nd affixed the Seal of the Supream 

Court, the //^ V ^ Day of xJtffrluL^ in 

the Year firf^ above mentioned. g^S^U^^ 

Fac-simile of the Naturalization Certificate of Jacob Russel, father of Bishop John 
Russel, both of whom are buried at Keedysville, Maryland 



282 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 

CONSTITUTION 

Of the Society formed for the support and relief of the travelling or superannuated and %r 
the service of the gospel icorn out Preachers of the United Brethcrn in Christ 



ARTICLE I. 
This society is to be known by and bear the name of The Benevolent Societij of the United Breth- 
ren in Christ. 

ARTICLE II. 
Section 1. The funds of this society and all other concerns, are to be directed and managed by a 
board of seven Trustees, a majority of whom is to constitute a quorum to transact the bussiness entrust- 
ed to them. 

Sec. 2 The first Trustees are to be appointed by the present annual conference, and hold their an- 
pointment until their successors are appointed by the next general conference, who shall appoint the 
Trustees for this society, at each succeeding general conference for four years. 

Sec. 3. In case of death, resignation, or expulsion of any member of the board of Trustees, the Pre- 
sident of the board shall notify and call a meeting of the members of the board, where they shall fill 
the vacancy by electing another member from the subscribers. 

Sec. 4. The Trustees shall elect a President out of their own body, who shall preside and have 
a casting vote in all their proceedings, sign in the name of President and Trustees of the Benevolent 
Societi/ of the United Brethren in Christ, all contracts, deeds, leases, &c. in behalf of the society. 

Sec. 5. The Trustees shall appoint a. Treasurer, who shall give bond and securities for the faith- 
ful performance of his trust. 

Sec. 6. All monies received on account of subscription, donations or otherwise, shall, be paid over, 
to the Tieasurer,and by him invested in such funds, and appropriated to such purpose, as the board of 
Trustees shall from time to time direct. 

Sec. 7. A correct account of all receipts and expenditures is to be kept by the Treasurer, and annu- 
ally transmitted to the annual conference, and every four years to the general conference. 

ARTICLE III. 

Sec. 1. Every member of this society shall pay annually One Dollar on or before the first of 
March in every year to the fund of this society. 

Sec. 2. Every person who subscribes and pays Ten Dollars, shall be a member for life, without 
any further contribution. 

Sec. 3- If any member neglects or refuses to pay for three successive years his Annual subscrip 
tion he by so doing excludes himself of his membership. 

ARTICLE IV. 
Sec. I. The funds of the society received by subscription, donation or otherwise, shall by the di- 
rection of the board of Trustees be invested in such manner, as shall appear to them the most safe 
and productive. 

Sec. 2. The funds shall be kept sacred until the capital shall amount to twenty thousand dollars, 
and on no account whatever shall the board of Trustees appropriate any part of the capital fund be- 
fore this time 

Sec. 3. The board of Trustees shall annually direct their Treasurer, to pay over to the annual 
conferences, such sums (after deducting the necessary expenses incurred) as may have accrued by 
interest or revenue on the capital fund. 
Sec 4. The annual conferences shall distribute such sums, as may appear to them most proper 

and beneficial. 

ARTICLE V. 

Sec 1. The board of Trustees shall have the power to locate the place, and appoint the time of 
their meeting. 

Sec. 2 They shall have the power to make by-laws, and adopt such other rules and regulations, 
as may appear necessary to the wellfare of the society, provided such by-laws, rules and regulation- 
arc not contrary to this constitution. 

Sec 3. They also have power to adopt and use a common seal in behalf of the society. 

A R T I C L E VI. 

The general conference shall have power to alter and amend this constitution, provided two third? 

of the members of their body agree to such amendment or alteration, and the names of the yeas and 

noes are entered in their protocoll. 

The above constitution has been adopted and ratified by the United Brethren in conference assembled 
The following persons were appointed Trustees until the next general conference. 

John Cronise, Valentine Daub, Andrew Newcomer, George 
Martini, Jacob Wcnger, Jacob Brazer, Samuel Huber. 

APRIL 11, 1822. 

Facsimile of the Constitution of the Original Benevolent Society of the United 
Brethren in Christ, organized in 1 822 at Hagerstown, Maryland 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 283 

Facsimile of a letter written by Rev. Conrad Roth to John Hershey, of 
Hagerstown, Maryland 

a^aL^^Uy,fen ^ Pf/^ZZ^^ ii^ot^ ^ 
fecn c^A^J' /^A^rU^y, e^et 4^tA**^J <ftL~sA yc^J^ 
Ajy^ bMe^Jtl J#^Jj7l o4r.^<2) fcAo^ x^^-<.J^. 

o < 






<jsr~t~~, ^^^^ J^A sW^C^ 






■■■- ~^«^ y ^ ^MuU^t^uf&^J 



<?^ 






• ,, >/_> v £>-^ Ct ^ ^X^ 



Y°^- C<^ »*& ot'jfv^M^ 



284 LANDMARK HISTORY 







CHAPTER VI 




Some Miscellaneous History 

ROCKY SPRINGS SCHOOL-HOUSE 

HIS school-house was used by the United Brethren for pur- 
poses of public wor- 
ship after the society 
that was organized at 
Peter Kemp's, or Val- 
entine Doub's, as it 

was later called, ceased to worship in 

that historic home. 

Many great meetings were held in 

this old school-house, and hundreds of 

precious souls were saved there. It is 

the centre of many fondly cherished and 

tender memories ! And the older we 

get and the nearer we come to the end 

fi • r . i 1 -i, 111 1 Rocky Springs School-House 

lire the more abundant and blessed 

the outreachings of the heart become ! Dear boys and girls, some bright day 

we shall meet again ! 




GEORGE STOKES AND WIFE 

Mr. and Mrs. George Stokes were among the charter members of "Wel- 
ler's Church" at Thurmont, Maryland, then called Mechanicstown. They 
were devoted Christians and staunch United Brethren. The writer knew 
them well. They both lived to a great age, Mrs. Stokes being the last to 
go home. 

Forty years ago the writer preached in Weller's Church for the pastor, 
Rev. J. K. Nelson ; and after the sermon, which was our third attempt at 
preaching, Mr. Stokes came to me and said : "You will go with me for din- 
ner." "Thank you," I said, 'Til get my horse and go with you." "Your horse 



286 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



is in my stable, and fed," said the aged patriarch. Then he took me to his 
home, where I got a good dinner. Just as soon as dinner was over, and 

while we still sat at the table. Brother 
Stokes turned to me and said : "Now 
you must be going ; preachers must 
not be late or lazy. You have nine 
miles to your next appointment, and 
you have only two hours in which to 
make the ride. You must be off now." 
"Why, father," said his daughter Su- 
san, who felt that her father had spoken 
too bluntly to the strange and bashful 
preacher ; "don't talk that way to Mr. 
Brane ; he does not understand your 
way of speaking." Well, to tell the truth, I did feel embarrassed over my 
abrupt dismissal from the table ; but later on I learned to know the traits of 
this singular and saintly man, who was pure and tender at heart. 

From 1 864 to 1 866, which was after Mr. Stokes' death, I was the pastor 
of Weller's Church, and boarded with Mrs. Stokes and her daughter Susan, 
two of the most devoted Christians I ever knew. 




George Stokes 



Mrs. George Stokes 



ROCKY SPRINGS CHAPEL 



This is a cut of the new United 
Brethren Church that was built at 
Rocky Springs, right close to the old 
Rocky Springs school - house, into 
which the class that worshiped at 
Valentine Doub's moved. This neat 
chapel, because we ha' 1 but few mem- 
bers in that neighborhood, was sold 
to the community. The ground should 
have been maintained to the latest 
generation ! For the sake of high and 
historic sentiment, to say nothing of 
the spiritual welfare of the community, 
which will always need the organized Rocky Springs Chapel 

life and influence of the Church, this chapel should have remained in the 
hands of the United Brethren in Christ, who were the first to break the bread 
of life in this neighborhood. 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 287 



FIRST "LIBERAL" APPEAL 




^ntJpL X*€^*^ <P&stsi~eZcU*t0*e.tt /*>* "fee J^u^.±^c> 

23nv, {fU^eL &MJU^ &^*»4* #^*4%& 4*c&*&%ZiJZk4 






The above is a fac simile of the first appeal that was made by the "Liberal" 
element of the Church to the General Conference against the unjust enforce- 
ment of the Secrecy law. 



288 



LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



T HIS IS TO iCTSBTli^Y, to whom it may concern, that 
&<*<■*'& &>et0**tZ3 i$. -an approved Preacher of 'the Gospei of * 
Jesus Christ among us ike United Brethren in Christ \ mnd has keen so- 
lemnly ordained^ by .laying*en of hands by the Bishop and Elders, to the* 

office of an Elder , so long as Ms deportment is conformable witji the Gos 



pel. Given at ant-i^l 

county and ifate of .~ifr. 4^* -£*><*» 

m ike year 1&.4& 

Signed and sealed in behalf 



Conference held in j^ 
iim this % ft day of^ 






i Conference, 
J 









Bigten Sr&tkf n anscnomttun uno f«&erli# Durcfe Sfitfffgung Da^aciDe ht$ .JSifc&offs unD See 
! :frcn orDtairf »»orI>en ift fo lange « ft# Dem €»aiJ0elio s«< 
& 'l-3 '\^'/' J l fi* €e»fem% gel)alf«n in / * 



Caaiisf tw6~ &taat $&rf '*£ ;* # 



w ijen 



H n f c s i c 1 4f n e f «n& fe e fi e 3 % 1 1 \m ^lamm btfastw £enfe«nj. 






itn 3 a *)* *8-/v. 






ORDINATION CERTIFICATE 

This is a fac simile of the original Ordination Certificate of Rev. Jacob 
Bowlus, which his grandson, Mr. J. A. Bowlus, Fremont, Ohio, loaned me for 
this purpose. The ordination of Mr. Bowlus probably occurred at Henry 
Kumlers, near Green Castle, Penn'a, where a sacramental meeting was held 
May 22, just two days before the annual conference met in Hagerstown, 
Maryland, some eight miles south. By action of conference, the bishops were 
authorized to ordain ministers at the "great meetings" that were held between 
the sessions of the conference. 



MARY SNOOK 

This is the sweet face of a central figure in the home of J ohn Snook, a 
most devoted pioneer member of the United Brethren 
Church, who lived at Keysville, Carroll County, Md. 
Mary Snook, who was more than ninety when she died, 
was the mother of John Snook. Her maiden name was 
Butterbaugh. She lived with her son for some years. 
She and her son were close friends, equally devoted to 
the Church, and increasingly interested in its welfare. 
Better still, they were both thoroughly good — as much 
like Jesus as it is possible for people to be. Mary Snook 
was a true Christian while sojourning here below, and 
Mary Snook is now in the enjoyment of her reward. 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 



289 



OTTERBEIN MEMORIAL CHAPEL 

This is a fine cut of the first 
United Brethren Church that was built 
in Frederick, Md. The congregation 
was organized by Rev. A. M. Evers, 
in 1873. Ten years later he returned 
to the charge and built this chapel in 
1883. It was located on East Third 
Street. The lot cost $1,200, and the 
chapel about $4,000. It was dedi- 
cated by Bishop Glossbrenner. It 
was sold when the new church was 
built in 1900. 

The devoted paster, heroically as- 
sisted by Henry Perry, D. H. Hen- 
drickson and wife, Miss Kate Hoover, 
Miss Sue Haugh, Peter Kemp, Mrs. 

W. H. Doub, the KintZS, BobstS, Klines Otteibein Memorial Chapel 

and many others whom I cannot mention here, deserves much credit for thi; 
church erection achievement. 




PETER BRANE AND WIFE 



Peter Brane was the son of Benjamin Brane, who was a charter member 
of the society that worshiped at Peter Kemp's, Frederick County, Maryland. 
He married Catharine Doll, of Frederick, Maryland, 
whose maiden name was Smith. They moved to 
Liberty, Ohio, some time in the forties. After some 
years of residence in the vicinity of Liberty, where 
his wife died, Benjamin Brane and his sons, Peter, 
Daniel and Abram, and his sister Sallie, who married 
a Mr. Culler, moved to Wabash County, Indiana, 
where they lived and died. Peter Brane, son of 
Benjamin, married Miss Ritchie, of Frederick, Mary- 
land, 
class, 

Benjamin Brane and his sons established the United 
Brethren Church in Lincolnvr.le, Indiana, and were devoted members of it 
till their death. Their many descendants, most of whem live in and around 
Lincolnville, are also members of the Church. 




Peter Brane and \\ 



They were both members of the Peter Kemp 
as it was called. After they moved west, 






290 LANDMARK HISTORY OF THE 



INDEX 



Part One— By Rev. Daniel Eberly, A.M., D.D. 

Page 

Preface 13 

Lecture the First 15 

Lecture the Second 29 

The Illustrations 42 

Notes on the Lectures 50 

Part Two— By Rev. I, H. Albright, A.M., Ph.D. 

Preface 85 

CHAPTER I— Origin of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ .... 87 

An American-Born Church 87 

Its Founders 88 

Their Preparation for the Work of Evangelism 88 

Formality and Deadness of the Churches 90 

Sympathy with the Work 91 

Opposition to the Work 92 

Boehm's Conversion and Exclusion 93 

Meeting at Isaac Long's 96 

An Outing 100 

CHAPTER II— Lancaster County and its First White Settlers 101 

Lancaster City 102 

Otterbein's Pastorate in Lancaster !02 

Boehm's Appointments 103 

Lay Preachers 103 

Christian Newcomer 103 

First Conferences 105 

First Churches * . 106 

First Classes 106 

Florin Church 107 

Ranck's Church 110 

Mountville Church 115 

Soudersburg-St. John's Church 118 

Pannabecker's-Paradise Church 122 

Intercourse Church 124 

Elizabethtown Church 127 

Lancaster-Covenant Church . 129 

New Holland Church 134 

Columbia Church 137 

Shissler's-Neffsville Church 141 

Mount Joy Church 143 

Ephrata Church 145 

Stehman's Church 147 



UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 291 

Page 

CHAPTER Ill-York County 149 

First Preachers and Preaching Places 149 

The Conference at Spangler's 152 

York Circuit 153 

The Campmeetings at Lewis Hartman's 154 

Winterstown Church 156 

Zion Church 160 

First Church, York 163 

' Dallastown Church 169 

Rohler's Union Church 1 74 

Springet Church 176 

St. Paul Church 177 

Manchester Church 1 79 

Jerusalem Church 180 

Mount Wolf Church 182 

Spry Church 183 

Red Lyon Church 185 

Second Church, York 187 

Third Church, York 189 

Dillsburg Circuit Churches 191 

Part Three— By Rev. C. I. B. Brane, A.M., D.D. 

Preface 199 

CHAPTER I— United Brethren in Lebanon County 201 

First Settlers 201 

Meeting at Isaac Long's 202 

Rev. Martin Kreider 205 

Rev. Abraham Draksel 205 

Casper Sherk 206 

Rev. Felix Light 207 

John Light 207 

Jacob Weiss 208 

George A. Mark, Sr 209 

Light's Meeting House 209 

Annville Church .210 

Sherk's Meeting House 211 

Brightbili's Church . "... .212 

Myerstown Church 212 

Salem Church 213 

Trinity Church 214 

Lebanon Valley College 216 

Rev. John Light 217 

Pinegrove Church 218 

Bellegrove Church 219 

Memorial Church " 220 

Fredericksburg Church 220 

Jonestown Church 221 

Palmyra Church 22 I 

Rev. Joseph F. Light 222 

Felix H. Light 222 

John B. Rauch 223 

The East Pennsylvania Conference 224 



292 LANDMARK HISTORY 

Page 

CHAPTER II— Some Maryland Marks .228 

Captain Lawrence Eberhart 228 

John Snook '. 231 

Christian Remsberg 233 

Mrs. Mariah C. Remsberg 235 

Doub's Sunday School 237 

John Hoover 238 

Jerusalem and Vicinity 239 

CHAPTER III— Churches in Frederick County 242 

Where the Conference Met 243 

Rocky Springs Church 243 

Otterbein Memorial Church 244 

Baulus Chapel 244 

Georgetown Chapel 245 

Mount Vernon Church 246 

Weller's Church 246 

Dodge Chapel 249 

Otterbein Chapel 249 

Sabillasville Church 249 

Deerfield Church 249 

Salem Church 250 

Mount Olivet Church 250 

Mount Zion Church 250 

Mount Carmel Church 25 I 

Rev. John Hershey and Family 25 I 

CHAPTER IV— Some Pioneer Church Schools 254 

Mount Pleasant College 255 

Cottage Hill College 255 

Rocky Spring Schoolhouse 257 

Retreat Schoolhouse 259 

CHAPTER V— St. Paul's Church, Hagerstown, Maryland 260 

Yost Harbaugh 272 

Henry Hemp 273 

Rev. Jacob Thomas 275 

Two Pioneer Trustees 276 

The Shipman Home 276 

Rev. Henry Burtner 277 

Mrs. Valentine Doub 278 

Our First Church Historian 280 

Naturalization Certificate of Jacob Russel 281 

Constitution of the Original Benevolent Society of the United Brethren . 282 
Letter written by Rev. Conrad Roth to John Hershey 283 

CHAPTER VI— Some Miscellaneous History 285 

Rocky Springs Schoolhouse 285 

Rocky Springs Chapel 286 

First "Liberal" Appeal 287 

Ordination Certificate of Rsv. Jacob Bowlus 288 

Mary Snook 288 

Otterbein Memorial Chapel 289 

Peter Brane and Wife 289 



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